How to Relieve Stress with Exercise

Posted on January 1st, 2009 by monsterguide

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Working at the office is not a very physical activity, but it can get very stressful. Deadlines, meetings, and just about everything about your job makes you want to pop open your collar and get rid of all that pent-up rage and stress. Exercise, particularly sports, can help you relieve stress and put all your inner rage to good use.

Many gyms and fitness clubs offer exercises and physical activities that help you manage and release stress. Professionals enroll themselves in classes, sessions, and memberships to establishments that not only keep them fit, but are also great for stress management.

Here are some of the many sports and activities you can participate in to relieve stress:

Boxing

Many aficionados, amateurs, and professionals consider boxing a complete total body workout. Boxing incorporates strength training with various elements of aerobic conditioning and emphasis on hand-eye coordination. Many gyms provide boxing equipment like gloves, sandbags, speed bags, training dummies, and protective equipment. Many boxing gyms will also provide you with a personal coach to help you with your boxing technique. Most boxing workouts only take one to two hours, which makes it perfect for people who want exercise on the go.

Mixed Martial Arts

For professionals who are particularly stressed, chokes, strikes, and joint locks may sound really appealing. Mixed martial arts (MMA) is very popular today, thanks to television and pay-per-view. You don’t have to be a burly, muscle-bound person to participate in MMA. Many gyms offer classes and sessions for you to practice many martial arts, including:

Brazilian Jiujitsu. If you don’t have the build of a wrestler or a martial artist, Brazilian Jiujitsu (BJJ) may just be for you. BJJ focuses on technique and leverage to take down and neutralize an opponent.
Karate is one of the world’s most popular martial arts. Karate combines strikes, grapples, and leverage to form a complete fighting system.
Eskrima. If you don’t like fighting with your hands, you can try fighting with sticks. Eskrima is a Southeast Asian martial art that involves flowing, coordinated motions with short staffs.

Dance

Dance is another great way to release stress. Many clubs and organizations sponsor dance lessons, classes, and even performances to those who apply to them. Here are some dance forms that you may want to try if you want to release stress:

Capoeira is known to be a fighting style, but many components of break dancing and bboying originate from this Brazilian martial art.
Ballroom dances like tango, waltz, cha-cha and foxtrot are all great stress relievers. Your company may even sponsor dance events and competitions from time to time.
Video games like Dance Dance Revolution and games played with the Wii Balance Board are great calorie burners, as well as stress relievers.

Racket Sports

For people who lead an active lifestyle, racket sports may just be the answer to instant stress relief. Here are some racket sports you may be interested in:

Racquetball is a game enjoyed by many professionals. Racquetball courts can be found in many sports clubs and fitness centers.
Badminton can be played literally anywhere, whether it’s a full court or the office parking space. All you need are two rackets and a shuttlecock.
Tennis is a great sport for weekend warriors. Many office workers and employees go to tennis clubs to release the stress of eight-hour work weeks.

Yoga

If you want to relieve stress, but you’re not into intense physical activities, then you may want to try yoga. Yoga is an exercise that involves persons connecting with the Universe and the energy from within. Many fitness clubs hold yoga sessions, although many celebrities and fitness instructors are now marketing yoga instructional videos and books for home yoga practitioners. Yoga has many health benefits, and also helps you release stress just by saying “Aum.”

With so many sports and exercises to choose from, relieving office stress is as simple as taking up something physical. Go out, enjoy, and exercise your way to a stress-free work week.