Enhancing brain health through exercise
What's the story
Keeping your brain's blood flow at its best is key to a healthy mind. This article lists five exercises that will get the blood pumping to your brain, helping you think clearer, remember better, and maybe even feel happier. You know that exercise is good for your body, but did you know that your brain loves it too? Some exercises are especially good for your brain.
Aerobics
Aerobic exercises for a healthy mind
Aerobic exercises aren't just good for your heart, they are key to improving blood flow to your brain. Activities like brisk walking, jogging, swimming or cycling raise your heart rate and increase blood flow throughout your body, including your brain. Doing 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise five days a week can increase blood flow to your brain. This can help keep your brain sharp as you get older.
Yoga
The power of yoga and meditation
Yoga isn't only good for your body, it's great for your mind too. Specific yoga poses such as downward facing dog, standing forward bend, and legs up the wall facilitate the flow of blood to your head and brain. Plus, the meditative aspects of yoga help alleviate stress. Since stress is a key contributor to impaired cerebral circulation, yoga's stress-relieving benefits indirectly support brain health.
Strength
Strength training: Not just for muscles
Strength training isn't just for gaining muscle mass and increasing bone density; it's also a secret weapon for boosting brain health. Those squats or lunges with light weights do more than build strength; they also promote healthy blood flow to the brain (and everywhere else). Adding two days of strength training to your week might just be the ticket to a stronger body and a sharper mind.
Flexibility
Flexibility exercises: Stretch your way to better circulation
Flexibility exercises such as stretching or Pilates enhance physical flexibility, leading to improved blood circulation by reducing stiffness in muscles and joints. When your muscles are flexible and your joints aren't sticky, blood can circulate more easily throughout your body and up to your brain. Doing flexibility exercises three times a week will keep your brain's blood supply in top shape, while also benefiting your overall health.
Breathing
Deep breathing exercises: Oxygenate your brain
Deep breathing exercises: This one might surprise you! Taking a few moments each day to practice deep breathing exercises can significantly improve blood flow to your brain. Techniques like diaphragmatic breathing or pranayama raise oxygen levels in your bloodstream, directly boosting cerebral circulation. Just five minutes a day can make a world of difference in how effectively your body delivers oxygen-rich blood to your brain.