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12 October 2020 | Story Arina Engelbrecht | Photo Supplied
Arina Engelbrecht
Arina Engelbrecht from Organisational Development and Employee Well-being believes physical activity has a number of benefits for one’s health, including stress relief.

Being physically active plays a big role in preventing the development of mental-health problems and in improving the quality of life of people experiencing mental-health problems.

Treatment for depression

Physical activity can be an alternative treatment for depression. It can be used as a stand-alone treatment or in combination with medication and/or psychological therapy. It promotes all kinds of changes in the brain, including neural growth, reduced inflammation, and new activity patterns are formed that promote feelings of calm and well-being. It releases endorphins – powerful chemicals in the brain that energise your spirit and make you feel good.  

Physical activity can be very effective in relieving stress. Research in adults has found that physically active individuals tend to have lower stress levels compared to individuals who are less active.  It also leads to improved sleep. When a person sleeps better and feels more rested, overall quality of life improves. They cope better with daily life stressors.

Reduce Alzheimer's risk

Regular physical activity can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by up to 50%. It can also slow down further deterioration in those who have already started to develop cognitive problems.  It stimulates the brain’s ability to maintain old connections as well as to make new ones.

A study asked people to rate their mood immediately after periods of physical activity (e.g. going for a walk/run, cycling, doing housework) and periods of inactivity (e.g. reading a book or watching television). Researchers found that participants felt more content, more awake, and calmer after being physically active compared to after periods of inactivity.

In conclusion, people who are physically active feel a sense of well-being, feel more energetic throughout the day, sleep better at night, have sharper memories, and feel more relaxed and positive about themselves and their lives.

“Being physically active not only changes your body, it changes your mind,
attitude, and your mood.” – Arina Engelbrecht

News Archive

DB Prinsloo now Director of KovsieSport
2012-06-08

 

DB Prinsloo and a fellow athlete at the Free State Cross Country Championships.
Photo: Supplied

08 June 2012

DB Prinsloo has been appointed as Director of KovsieSport, effective from 1 April 2012. He has been acting in this position since 2010.

Apart from leading this division for some time, DB has been involved as a sport manager at KovsieAthletics since 2003. “Athletics is my speciality sport, but during the past two years as acting director, I have managed to create a balance and I was able to divide my time in order to serve all the sporting codes.”

He is very excited about his appointment. “It’s such a privilege. I have been a Kovsie since my first year in 1982, and I am really proud to be able to go the distance,” he says.

Regarding his vision for KovsieSport, DB says, “I would like to see Kovsies become the first choice university in South Africa for students who are interested in sport – be it performance sport or recreational sport.”

He finds students’ involvement in sport at university important. “I would like to see us increase our excellence, something we are already working hard to achieve. Participating in sport is a lifestyle choice and I would like to see all students participating in our recreational sporting activities. A healthy body is home to a healthy spirit,” he says.
 

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