Sister Kit strikes again!

Got stress? These days, most all of us do. Much of the reason why is due to the fact that we live in a world that demands instant communication, our kids are involved in more organized activities than we were when we were younger, and many of us live in households where both partners work outside the home just to make ends meet.

So how do we combat the stress caused by these factors? There are many things you can do, but I am here to tell you that exercise has as much beneft for your emotional and mental fitness as it does your physical fitness.

Researchers at Duke University studied people suffering from depression for 4 months and found that 60% of the participants who exercised for 30 minutes three times a week overcame their depression without using antidepressant medication. And, you don't need to suffer from a clinical or diagnosed mental illness to get substantial mental health benefits from exercise and fitness. One study I read showed that short workouts of just 8 minutes in length could lower sadness, tension, and anger along with improving resistance to disease in healthy people.

So, if you come home from work tired and stressed out from a long, frustrating day instead of making the choice to skip your workout--that is the exact moment when you MUST do it. Think about it--It's usually this time when we reach for crappy food, take our stress out on others or sit in front of TV and just sink deeper into a bad mood. If in that instance you made the choice to push play with a fitness DVD, went for a jog or just did jumping jacks for 10 minutes you would feel THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE of how you felt had you made the other poor choices. Exercise is ALWAYS the BETTER choice. I have been known do to vinyasas and headstands in my cube at work when I finish a stressful meeting or phone call. It's a little strange, but boy is my mental clarity and focus better when I do and I am SO glad when I choose that instead of dipping my hand into the candy bowl.

So, next time you are feeling down or stressed, make the time to get some blood flowing to that hippocampus at the base of your brain and feel better physically and emotionally. DO IT FOR YOUR BRAIN AND YOUR BODY!!!