One quick fix to elevate your mood.
Aug 20, 2020
Our world is in a very transitional time. The impact of COVID-19, stay-at-home orders, racial injustice, police brutality, and an overall unease as we try to find a sense of normal has left me feeling anxious, frustrated, exhausted and fearful. If you can relate to these feelings, you – like me – may be struggling to find the best way to cope with this stress. My default is usually to look in the fridge every 30 minutes (I can’t even count the number of Dairy Queen M&M Blizzards I’ve had over the last few months!). Though a short-term reprieve from my stress, I’m feeling the impact of my poor diet choices. I was in search of a better way.
Recently, I was taking a Kundalini yoga class and my wonderful teacher, Sukhraj Gipple, shared the idea that “mood follows movement.” In essence, when you move your body, you can move your mood.
I realized how much I have relied on movement to shift my mood. I’ve taught fitness classes over the last two decades and I can tell you the difference regular exercise can make in mood. In an article published in “The Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry,” just 30 minutes of exercise can positively impact the amygdala (which controls the fight or flight stress response) and the hippocampus and limbic system (which both control mood and motivation). One time in a fitness studio that I was working at, a member came to class very upset about a credit card charge that she believed to be inaccurate. She was combative and demanding. Instead of arguing with her, I paused. I suggested she take the yoga class she was planning on attending and we’d discuss everything when class was over. In 75 minutes, her entire mood changed. When she came out of class, she was peaceful, communicative and understanding. We were able to resolve the issue and the power of exercise on mood was further solidified.
Maybe you’ve noticed that after sitting on the couch for an hour, your energy is drained. Those chores you were going to do…nah! There’s always tomorrow. That meal you were going to make…nah! Snacking will be fine. Your mood follows your movement and after extended times of inactivity (like checking emails or watching a show on Netflix), your energy is drained and you lose creativity and motivation.
Tony Robbins talks a lot about your physical state and it’s ability to impact your performance. In his book, “Awaken the Giant Within,” Tony says:
“All your emotions are nothing but biochemical storms in your brain, and you are in control of them at any moment in time. You can feel ecstasy right now, or you can feel pain or depression or overwhelmed — it’s all up to you.”
In 2019, I attended Tony’s live event called Unleash the Power Within. We spent so much time moving our bodies - dancing, clapping, hugging - all to shift our minds into peak state. When your body is moving and energetic, you will reflect that in your mood and mental state.
Does all of this mean that you need to exercise for an hour every time you feel crappy? No!
Here’s how you can use movement to lift your mood:
1. Be aware of your current mood. Notice when you feel anxious or angry.
2. Explore how your feelings are impacting you. Is your energy draining? Are you heading for the snack drawer?
3. Acknowledge the feeling. There’s no need to ignore it – simply acknowledge the feeling. Say “thank you” for the lesson it’s here to teach you.
4. Move! Find some way to move your body. Maybe it’s a 10 minute yoga flow or a short walk around your block. My favorite way to move is to put on my favorite music and dance like no one is watching baby!
5. Don’t make excuses. You can continue to feel stressed and sad, or you can quickly reset your mood through movement. It doesn’t have to take a long time - 30 seconds of shaking your arms or holding a smile for 15 seconds can have a huge impact.
