Did you think it was enough to sweat to feel better? This is not the case. A new search forUniversity of Georgia found that The simple fact of physical activity does not guarantee improvement in mental health. It matters a lot more the context in which you moveyour motivation and the way you live that experience.
The research invites us to look at the exercise from a different perspective:, but Why you do it, Where, with who And as You feel as you do it.
Sport, you know, helps you feel better. But second Patrick O’Connorprofessor of Kinesiology and co-author of the study ,. What really makes the difference is the context.
Let’s take an example: imagine a footballer who runs on the pitch, scores a goal and is acclaimed. Elimation to the stars, right? Now imagine the same footballer who makes the same race, but the decisive shot is wrong and is criticized. Same physical activity, But two completely opposite mental effects.
That’s why O’Connor and his team wanted to deepen What makes physical activity really beneficial for mental health. They analyzed dozens of studies: great research on populations, clinical experiments and, above all, an increasing number of investigations on the “invisible” factors surrounding motor activity.
The result? Play sports in your free time – Like a yoga lesson, a race in the park or a ride with friends – has positive effects, but only if lived in a favorable and pleasant context. Exercise for obligation or in stressful conditions, however, It can not have any mental benefit.
How, where and with those who move with more than you think
Often we speak of “dose” of exercise, as if mental well -being was only a matter of minutes or kilometers traveled. But according to O’Connor This vision is limited. To really understand how physical activity affects our mind, you have to ask other questions:
All these elements make up the “context” of the activityand can transform a simple walk into a regenerating experience … or in a moment of further stress.
Another important factor is Who we are while we move. Studies have shown that the benefits are stronger among people who already suffer from anxiety or depression. But be careful: many research is based on small and not very representative champions, therefore larger and more inclusive studies are needed To really understand what works and for whom.
The movement alone is not enough
O’Connor clearly says it:
If we really want to use physical activity to improve mental health ,. We have to ask ourselves: “What is the meaning of the experience? “
This means that fitness cannot be seen as a standard wellness recipe. Training in the gym with a motivating instructor is not the same as doing it alone, with the music off and under pressure. Even a walk under the scorching sun to go to work has a different effect from a relaxing walk in the greenery, perhaps with a friend.
The truth is that Our mind does not respond only to movement, but to everything around him: emotions, relationships, environment, motivation.
The movement is good, but only if it makes you feel good.
The next time you decide to exercise, ask yourself not only How much you move, but as You feel as you do it.
