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Being physically active and mentally well

12 October 2020 | Story Arina Engelbrecht | Photo Supplied

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

Kovsie marketer, Cindy Hack, leads Proteas in World Cup

2014-12-15

Cindy Hack
Photo: Stefan Lotter

Cindy Hack is not only a prominent schools marketer for the University of the Free State (UFS) in Durban, she also captains the national Protea Women’s Indoor Hockey team.

After playing field hockey for the Proteas for five years, she ended her field hockey career in 2012, just before the London Olympics.

Married and with a child to take care of, Hack says the indoor version of the game allows for more flexibility. “When playing outdoor hockey for the Proteas, you’ll be away on training camps in cities like Amsterdam, away from home for six weeks at a time,” Hack says. “With indoor hockey, we are definitely more flexible and tournaments and training camps do not take up as much time.”

She also points out the pace of this version of the game. “It used to be six players a side, but that number has recently been reduced to five players a side, making the game even faster and more intense.”

On 1 December 2014 Hack and her team travelled to Canada for a preparation tournament for next year’s World Cup. The Indoor Hockey World Cup will be hosted in Germany in February 2015.

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