Exercise not only strengthens our bodies but also has the power to uplift our spirits. The exercise high is a euphoric state experienced during and after physical activity. It usually leaves us feeling energized, motivated, and ready to conquer the world. In this blog post, we will explore how incorporating functional movements like running, squatting, lunging, push-ups, pull-ups, and hinging can help you tap into the incredible phenomenon of the exercise high, maximizing your post-workout bliss.
Functional Movements: Your Gateway to the Exercise High
Functional movements refer to movements we have evolved to perform to survive and thrive for millions of years. They form the basis of many exercise routines and play a pivotal role in triggering the release of hormones responsible for the exercise high. Let’s dive into the power of several essential functional movements:
- Running: Lace up your sneakers and hit the pavement. Running is a fantastic way to experience the exercise high. The rhythmic motion, increased heart rate, and endorphin release can leave you feeling exhilarated and accomplished. If you are wondering about how long to run for or about the duration of the runner’s high, check out my blog post “How long does a Runner’s High last?”.
- Squatting: Squats are one of the most fundamental movements that we appear to forget how to do the older we get. A squat targets multiple muscle groups, including the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and your core. They require coordination and strength. As you challenge yourself with squats, you’ll feel the endorphins surging and the exercise high kicking in.
- Lunging: Lunges are excellent for targeting the lower body, particularly the glutes, quadriceps, and hamstrings. Take a large step forward with one leg and let your body sink down in a controlled manner while keeping your body straight. The controlled and deliberate movement engages your muscles, boosts your heart rate, and triggers the release of those mood-enhancing endorphins.
- Hinging: Hinging exercises, such as deadlifts, engage your glutes, hamstrings, and lower back musculature. Just make sure you hinge the proper way, i.e. without bending through your lower back. The controlled movement and the activation of these large muscle groups release endorphins and leave you feeling empowered.
Upper Body Functional Movements
- Push-ups: Push-ups are a classic exercise that strengthens your upper body, particularly the chest, shoulders, and triceps. As you push your body weight up and down, you’ll activate your core, engage multiple large muscle groups and experience the exercise high as those endorphins flood your system.
- Pull-ups: This challenging exercise targets your back, biceps, and shoulders. They are my personal favourite from this list. They make take a while to learn properly, but once you can do them, they can make you feel fantastic. As you lift your body weight using your upper body strength, you’ll feel a rush of adrenaline and endorphins, heightening the exercise high.
How Functional Movements Trigger Our Reward Circuits
You may be wondering what it is about these and many more functional, fundamental movements that make you feel so good. It is believed to be due to the fact that we engage our major muscle groups. They require much more energy to perform relative to most other movements we perform on a daily basis. Additionally, they are the movements that we had to perform on a daily basis thousands to millions of years ago. They are the movements that spark our natural reward circuits for making it think that you just performed a survival-enhancing activity.
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Tips for Maximizing the Exercise High
- Embrace Variety: Incorporate a range of fundamental movements into your exercise routine. Mix and match running, squatting, lunging, push-ups, pull-ups, and hinging exercises to engage different muscle groups and keep your workouts exciting.
- Gradual Progression: Challenge yourself by gradually increasing the intensity and complexity of your movements. Whether it’s increasing your running distance or adding more weight to your squats, progression stimulates the release of endorphins and intensifies the exercise high.
- Consistency Breeds Success: Aim for regular exercise sessions to experience the exercise high more frequently. Consistency establishes a routine and primes your body to release endorphins more efficiently, amplifying your overall well-being.
- Take Care of Your Four Pillars of Health: Without taking care of other pillars of health, including sleep, nutrition, and managing stress, your body will be in more of a survival state. When you are in a survival state, your body has no time to produce happy molecules!
Conclusion
By incorporating fundamental functional movements like running, squatting, lunging, push-ups, pull-ups, and hinging into your exercise routine, you can support the formation of an exercise high more efficiently and thereby elevate your post-workout experience. These movements engage multiple muscle groups and challenge your body. Thereby triggering the release of endorphins, leaving you with a sense of euphoria, satisfaction, and increased well-being. So, embrace the power of fundamental movements. So, let the exercise high propel you towards a healthier and happier you. To learn more, please have a look at more of my articles.