The Connection Between Mind and Movement

"When most people hear "exercise," they think about muscles, cardio, or maybe squeezing into last year's jeans. But movement is much more than a way to change your body. In fact, it is one of the most overlooked tools we have to change the mind. As a psychologist, I've spent decades working with people navigating stress, trauma, anxiety, and depression. Again and again, I've seen how introducing movement can shift not just mood, but an entire outlook on life."

"Nine Ways to Move Your Mind Different types of movement shape us in different ways. In my Mindful Action Lab at Touro University, my colleagues and I explored nine categories of movement in our research and in the new book Mind and Movement: Advancing Mental Health Treatment with the Science of Physical Activity. Cardiovascular training (running, swimming, brisk walking): Great for lifting mood, reducing anxiety, and improving sleep. Strength training (weights, resistance bands, bodyweight moves): Builds confidence and resilience alongside muscle."

"Flexibility and mobility (stretching, yoga poses): Helps release tension and restore balance after stress. Balance and coordination (tai chi, single-leg drills): Trains focus and presence while reducing fall risk across the lifespan. Mind-body practices (yoga, qigong, breathwork): Encourage calm awareness, a powerful antidote to racing thoughts. Functional and daily-life movement (carrying groceries, climbing stairs, gardening): The most accessible way to embed health benefits into everyday life."

Movement functions as an underused but powerful mental health tool. Exercise reduces depression, calms anxiety, improves sleep, and builds resilience and confidence. Different movement categories produce distinct cognitive and emotional benefits: cardiovascular work elevates mood and sleep quality; strength training supports resilience; flexibility reduces tension; balance and coordination enhance focus and presence; mind-body practices foster calm awareness; and functional daily movements embed benefits into routine life. Integrating varied, accessible forms of movement into daily habits supports overall psychological well-being and resilience across the lifespan.

Read at Psychology Today