Stress Reduction: Physical Exercise

In the last byte, we looked at leisure time activities as a source of stress reduction. In the currently byte, we look at physical exercise as a means to reduce stress.

Stress reduction through physical activities has been found to be extremely effective as a secondary stress prevention activity. Physical Exercises have been part of almost every one’s life during their initial schooling days, but if we carefully think of it - we realize that this really was implemented as part of education through classes, the extension of exercise into later life was just a choice that student! The increasing yoga, physical fitness clubs, etc are all ways which people resort to in attempt to reduce stress. In Military Organizations, this is done through physical fitness standards that the focus would need to live up to.

Even a simple flexibility training help people reduce stress. This training focuses on the muscular contraction associated with the stress response. Stress response also affects the muscles - the flexor muscles which prepares a person to react/respond to the stress situation - a fight or flee response that we had mentioned that comes along with a person. The muscle stress is released through stretch during the flexibility training and helps relax the muscle. This helps maintain joint mobility, increase strength and plays an important role in reducing injury.