5 Mood Boosting Workout Ideas

Everyone has their reasons for choosing to take on more exercise, whether it’s to enjoy a new hobby or challenge their bodies and test their limits.

We recently carried out a survey on why people choose to get fit, as well as the reasons why some are more successful than others at sticking to it. We discovered that the majority of adults (62%) keep up with a new exercise routine when they have a long-term goal in mind.

The quest to improve mood and energy is a popular reason for taking on a new fitness routine. Some are trying to regain a focus they once had, whereas others are simply looking for ways to get a good night’s sleep.

If you, like many others, are looking for a new exercise to improve your mood and motivation, we have a few suggestions for the types of workouts to try.

1. Yoga - To Feel More Confident

If you’re feeling like your self-esteem needs a nudge in the right direction, then yoga could be the ideal exercise for you. Many believe that confidence in yourself comes from creating harmony between the mind and the body, something that yoga helps many people to achieve.

Yoga is an immensely popular exercise for improving posture, retuning balance, and increasing flexibility, all of which can help you to feel more confident and relaxed in your body and yourself, especially over time and as you advance your yoga finesse.

Find out more about the different varieties of yoga and the physical and mental benefits of practising it, as well as the best poses to get your started in our guide to yoga for beginners.

2. Pilates - To Help You Sleep

There are many reasons why someone might suffer from troubled, restless nights. Plenty of people turn to pilates as a way of tackling sleepless nights, as it not only helps to calm the mind and the nervous system but also gently works the body into a state where it requires rest and recuperation in order to recover.

Pilates consists of countless movements and positions, that help to build a strong core and improve flexibility, as well as developing a more controlled way of breathing at the same time. Although each of the positions used in pilates are beneficial to body in one way or another, there are a select few which are said to be particularly useful in delivering a better night’s sleep:

• The Hundred
• The Saw
• The Mermaid
• The Twisted Cat
• A Wall Roll Down
• A Spine Stretch
• A Pelvic Curl
• A Rollback

These movements are said to either elongate, roll or unroll the body (similarly to how many of us sleep, in the fetal position), which can massage and re-centre the spine, as well as relaxing the body ready for sleep.

3. Cycling - To Boost Energy Levels

If you’re hoping to boost your overall energy levels, why not take on cycling as a hobby? Not only is it one of the best exercises for endorphins, it can also help to reduce fatigue and leave you feeling even more energised in the long run. In fact, a study on the subject found that cycling can boost energy levels by 20%.

To reap the energy-boosting benefits of cycling, it’s recommended that you fit it into your schedule at least three times a week. You don’t even need to overexert yourself - a gentle to moderate pace will leave you feeling just as revitalised. With that in mind, why not swap a few of your car commutes with a cycle to work instead?

4. Weights - To Improve Focus

The level of thought and control required to carry out strength training can help you to feel more focused in other aspects of life. Whether you’re looking to get back to grips with your career development or to learn something new, half an hour of weight training two to three times a week could improve your focus.

Weight training is one of the more strenuous exercises to take on and, as a beginner, it’s crucial to start slowly and ease your way into more advanced sets and reps over time.

5. Tai Chi - To Bust Stress

This ancient martial art has recently benefited from a huge surge in popularity, due to its stress-busting properties. Often described as moving meditation, this particular exercise consists of slow, steady, graceful movements that move the body from one position to another, all while maintaining a deep and controlled breathing.

It’s this relaxed and controlled method that makes Tai Chi so effective for diminishing stress levels. Not only that, but the movements within Tai Chi are said to incorporate the yin and yang principles, of bringing negativity together with positivity - integrating feelings and emotions. A couple of sessions of Tai Chi each week helps many individuals, old and young, to battle the stresses and strains of everyday life and to feel more positive overall.

Mix Mood-Boosting Workouts With Nutritional Vitamin Supplements

Each of these mood-boosting exercises work best when paired with a healthy and nutritional diet. We understand how hard it can be to fit in a variety of nutritional meals, day in, day out, which is why we have developed our range of vitamins supplements, designed to safeguard the daily nutritional needs of men and women of all ages.

Not only that, but some Vitabiotics products are specifically designed to provide you with an extra boost of energy releasing vitamins when needed. When you are looking for a boost, be sure to enjoy one of our energy effervescent tablets in a glass of water before tackling the exercise ahead.