So now that I can’t do any intense cardio or lift very heavy weights, I’m realizing how much I rely on exercise for stress relief.
That kind of exercise burns off steam and makes me feel good.
Shocker: I’m finding moderate cardio and lighter, more rep, lifting, not so good for stress relief.
But maybe I’m not doing the right kind of light exercise?
Here’s what I read:
And here’s what they recommend, Yoga with Adriene! My old pandemic friend.
Maybe I’ll revisit Yoga with Adriene even though there are now lots of yoga poses I can’t do.
I’m also enjoying Saturday morning aquayoga at my fancy gym.
Do you have a form of exercise you find particularly good for relieving stress? Share your experiences in the comments below.
Just walking in nature (and parks and leafy streets will do) helps me let go of tensions and anxiety. I admit, it’s not the same as a threshold ride, but it also is accessible much of the time. But I get it– I’d be looking for a wringing-me-out but not messing-me-up exercise plan for those times when it’s needed. We will all give this some thought, and keep us posted on your ideas.
Walking with friends; walking with my dog (back when I had one – now am traveling too much to be able to – dog would be too lonely). I live in a hilly area, so it’s not too hard to get some actual exercise when walking. Also, although it doesn’t take what I usually think of as cardio exercise, bird watching. Others love looking more closely at the native plants. I guess these are more out door activities that relieve stress. They don’t do much about increasing heart rate.
I have found Qigong/YoQi a good stress reliever and flexibility enhancer. I follow a course led by Marissa Cranfill, which is one of the classes offered by The Great Courses. She also has a few videos on YouTube, which you can try for free. She refers to her practice as a “moving meditation,” focussing on stress relief, energy creation, and breath control. All the sequences are done standing, so no flinging yourself about and no upside-down moves (except the occasional forward fold, which I don’t fully do.) The movements are often Tai Chi and or Yoga adjacent, though more dance-like and smooth-flowing. The background is Chinese medicine, so a lot of talk about meridians and energy centres. A bit woo-woo, but not overly so. If you want to talk more about this program (I’ve been doing it for years), email me.