Both our blog and our online store are dedicated to spreading awareness of social issues- of talking about the ignored topics. So you might ask yourself, where does fitness fit in? What does exercise have anything to do with making the world a better place? Well, it has everything to do with it. Here’s a look at how something as simple as exercise can help out with a few key issues:
1. Bullying
Some forms of exercise, like martial arts, are great for kids who are being bullied. It teaches kids to value themselves and to develop self-confidence. A bully’s words seem much less poignant when a child has confidence in who he really is. In fact, a bullied teen who exercises is 23% less likely to commit suicide.
As an added bonus, it teaches self-defense skills. If ever physically in danger from a bully, a child with martial arts experience will know how to handle himself.
2. Mental Illness
It’s been proven time and time again that the endorphins that flow through your body after you exercise can help fight off depression. Whether you’re just having a bad day or suffer from diagnosed depression, exercise can fight off the sadness and leave you feeling energized and happier.
No matter what mental illness you suffer from, exercise is a great outlet. It helps you channel all your emotions into a positive activity. And as a result, it’s a natural way to treat some of the ailments that might be bothering you. So, the next time you’re feeling stressed, upset, or angry about something, try exercising. Afterwards, the world might seem a little better.
3. Addiction
When you suffer from addiction, breaking the cycle of abuse is a difficult thing to do. When most addicts finally kick their habit, they usually look for a positive way to fill their time- a way to keep them from resorting to their object of addiction. For many former addicts, exercise is the perfect way to stay busy; many rehab centers even include exercise in the recovery process. For a couple of hours a day, you can focus on being healthy and improving yourself.
4. Domestic Abuse
Often, people who are in an abusive relationship lose sight of their own self-worth. Their partners make them feel like they are nothing. Certain types of exercise (like yoga and kickboxing) can fix that, leaving you feeling like you can take on the world. Considering how hard it can be to leave an abusive relationship, that empowerment is much needed.
5. Teens At Risk
For teens, one bad decision can change their lives forever. And today’s teens are constantly facing decisions with big impacts. But exercise is a great way for them to stay on the right track.
Whether they sign up for a sports team or just enjoy going to the gym a few days each week, the decision to be there can keep them from a dangerous activity. One study showed that teen girls who exercised more than ten days in a selected month were less likely to be in a gang. And another showed that teen athletes are less likely to abuse opioids.
And so, even though we’re dedicated to spreading awareness about social issues, we’re also dedicated to helping you handle those issues. Since getting and staying fit is one of the best ways to deal with many issues, we’ve made it our mission to help you do just that.
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