Top 15 Best Exercises For Depression And Anxiety  

Andy Brown from HomeGym101.com shared an article byPetrolene Le Roux who wrote that Anxiety was barely known as an illness before the 19th century.  Anxiety is caused by worrying about the future.  Depression is a prolonged state of sadness because of past events and experiences.

Most people experience anxiety or depression at some point in their lives.  Many physicians prescribe mental and physical exercises to improve a patient’s state of mind.

Here are some of the best exercises for anxiety and depression. 

It is not a one size fits all. Find an exercise that resonates with you and your lifestyle.

Mental And Breathing Exercises

Mental and breathing exercises help you relieve stress and tension from your body. It helps the body to release feel-good hormones. It also decreases hormones that cause stress symptoms like increased heart rate and shallow breathing.

1. Relaxation Through Breathing

By changing your breathing, you can stimulate the body’s hormonal system to get you into a relaxed state. You can also reverse the symptoms of a stress response, like increased heart rate, shortness of breath, and tense muscles. 

When you are anxious, you tend to breathe shallow, rapid breaths. To calm down, you want to breathe into your lower lungs as well so that you use your diaphragm during the movement.

Natural breathing techniques can be exercised throughout the entire day. This will also provide enough oxygen to fill your lungs and will control the exhalation of carbon dioxide.

Sit up straight or lie down. Slowly and gently inhale a deep breath of air through your nose, filling your lungs. Your stomach should expand when you inhale to make sure you are using your diaphragm.

Exhale slowly through your mouth.

Focus on and listen to your breaths as you fill up your lower lungs. Continue this breathing pattern for 5 times.

To see the other 14 exercises, click here.