Walking, Dancing, Tai Chi, Yoga, Stretching, Pilates, Running, Swimming, NIA are forms of exercise associated with mind/body fitness. Although they are quite different, each produces beneficial psychological and physiological changes.
In their research, psychologist Jack Raglin, Ph.D, and Ralph LaForge, MD, studied the psychological effects of different types of esercise. They found that aerobic exercise significantly decreases anxiety and that anxiety levels continue to decrease even after exercise. The "relaxation effect" appears to be a bi-product of aerobic exercise such as walking, running, swimming, aerobic dance.
TYPES OF MIND/BODY FITNESS AND ITS EFFECTS
Yoga, swimming, and stretching exercises were found to reduce anger, confusion, tension, and depression.
Yoga and stretching were also found to help regulate hypertension and even abate the symptoms of asthma.
Curiously, Raglin and LaForge found that walking and Tai-chi had similar effects on stress reduction even though they are very different types of exercise.
