Exercise and It’s Effect on Mental Well-being
Published on Tuesday, June 4th, 2024
Written by Connor Molloy, Psychotherapist, MSW, LICSW
Everyone knows that exercise helps with physical fitness, but it also has enormous benefits to mental well-being. [citation]. It can:
- improve your mood;
- increase self-esteem;
- help you to focus;
- sooth stress responses;
- and make your sleep better – the many benefits of which we
discussed in a previous edition.
This does not mean that you have to join a cricket team, or start pumping iron at the gym, even simply getting out and walking can improve your mood. [citation]. This means that exercise can be affordable and accessible to newly resettled Afghans, and need not be time consuming.
Lakes and Parks
Minneapolis is called the “City of Lakes,” and for good reason – there are over 22 lakes in Minneapolis and most have paths around them that provide for a smooth surface to engage in a peaceful walk around a beautiful body of water. Most Afghan families have children, and it is not always easy to get time away from them to exercise, which makes lakes perfect, as kids can join along for the walk or be pushed in a stroller. What’s more is that there are plenty of playgrounds and beaches for families to stop at for kids to play or swim.
Minneapolis has 185 neighborhood parks and St. Paul comes in a close second with 184. At these neighborhood parks parents can get walking exercise in, while being able to keep an eye on their kids playing on a playground or running around in a sports field.
Trails
For those looking for a little more exercise, and maybe even a tad bit of adventure, there are nature trails to be walked. Walking in nature has been shown to help with things like sadness and worry. [citation]. Luckily the Twin Cities are home to many aspects of nature such as rivers, waterfalls, and woods. Many of these have trails built around or through them making walking particularly accessible. One of the coolest and most accessible parks is Theodore Wirth Park, located right on the west side of Minneapolis. Walking there has the added benefit of the option to explore flowers and birds at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary, a children’s garden, and our very own bog! [citation].
YMCA
Though gym memberships often cost money, the YMCA in the Twin Cities offers scholarships that may make membership affordable and offer a wide range of exercise opportunities. They have tracks to walk on and pools to swim in, but also extra benefits like yoga classes and childcare. Applying for a scholarship is easy, anyone at ACS can help you complete the application, and you will almost always hear back withn ten days.
YouTube
There are also exercise classes like yoga on YouTube. These are free, can fit within any time frame, and allow you to get your movement in within the privacy of your home.