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Move!

The Timeless Torches  has been dancing their way across Facebook thanks to the NY Times. The WNBA’s New York Liberty has this dance squad “shaking their booty on center court” and it has gone viral. The dance team’s members ages range from over 40 through 60s. Hey, if they can do it, so can we. https://www.facebook.com/nytimes/videos/1863511523866361/?pnref=story

One thing I noticed when I was healing from my ankle, I was really emotional. My sweet husband when he noticed, would get me up and moving.  I was so excited to go to the grocery store! I’ve also noticed when I was spiraling about a student, or a situation I couldn’t control, if I took Sunshine, my sweet dog, for a long walk I could manage better.

According to an article from the Annals of Behavioral Science, there is a “lack of data from rigorous, methodically sound randomized clinical trials (RCTs) which precludes definitive conclusions.” However, the article continues to make a point that 1 in 3 individuals experience anxiety in his/her lifetime, it seems, with physician guidance, it’s worth a shot.

First, let’s define anxiety and its possible results. Anxiety is psychological state “characterized by apprehensive expectations or fear.”  The characteristics of anxiety may not be severe enough for a diagnosis as a clinical syndrome, it can impair someone’s psychosocial functioning and can necessitate healthcare resources. It can cause a risk of a lower quality of life, physical health problems, particularly cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Exercise can help according to this article, but is defined as “planned, structured, repetitive endeavor with the goal of improving physical fitness.”

You don’t have to body build or become a yoga master. You don’t have to join a gym.  One author, Jenna Wolfe, who you may recognize, has a book out and videos on her website http://JennaWolfe.com.  It’s not a weight thing (though I could lose some), it is a health stress release thing.

Wolfe is a delightfully informal author. As her title implies Thinner in 30, she gives you 30 changes that you can apply to your life in 30 days or as long as you want to take to do those changes. Her information comes from well documented sources. She is a certified personal trainer and “proud of receiving the distinguished  IDEA Jack LaLanne award in 2015” according to her biography in the back of the book.

I look at it this way, even if you don’t lose a lot of weight, but you do some of her changes and feel your stress level reduce, bravo.

 

Stonerock, G. L., Hoffman, B. M., Smith, P. J., & Blumenthal, J. A. (2015). Exercise as Treatment for Anxiety: Systematic Review and Analysis. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 49(4), 542-556. doi:10.1007/s12160-014-9685-9

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