Exercise Cures for Depression

Whether depression is situational or severe, exercise helps many people get back into the game of life. For severe sufferers of depression, antidepressants are an effective treatment. In addition to treatments, doctors also prescribe exercise as a natural and active way of helping those with depression feel better about themselves and about life.

Exercise

• Exercise makes the body and mind alert, active, and brings you into a good mood. Exercise wakes up the body and mind, therefore it's a powerful tool for those experiencing depression. Although it's not clear how exercise energizes the depressed, it's known for releasing stress, lifting a dark mood, and helping you sleep better. Duke and Yale conducted scientific research on the impact exercise has on depression at the schools.

Yoga

• The ancient practice of yoga has been deemed by many as a cure for depression. Yoga blends stretching exercises with breathing to restore the body to strength and health. Yoga requires complete focus on the breath and body that puts you into a meditative state.

Get Started

• When you're depressed, you're not motivated to do much, let alone exercise. So, to help you get started, talk to your health care provider. It's likely your health care professional will recommend a regular exercise routine.

  If you're facing a mild depression that can often be related to circumstances, then you can start by identifying some physical activities you would like to do such as walking, gardening, running, aerobics or swimming. Once you've decided what you want to do, then scheduled the best days and times for your exercise. Also determine how long you want to exercise. It can 15, 20 or 30 minutes. If you're motivated best with a partner, find a friend or relative who would like to join you. If that's not an option, join a group with the same interest.

  As you begin your exercise routine, think positively, affirm to yourself that you can do it or think of things you're grateful about. Avoid negative thinking about your exercise routine.

Benefits

• Exercising gives you focus on a positive goal that you can work toward at your own pace. Exercising will cause you to drink more water, if you weren't drinking enough of it. Water replenishes the body and gives you a refreshed feeling. It also helps relief fatigue. If you get an exercise partner or join a group, you're out with other people sharing the same interest. That can keep you from feeling isolated and depressed.