Exercise & Stress Management

Movement is Medicine — Especially for Stress

Physical activity of any kind helps lower stress hormones and boosts feel-good chemicals like endorphins and dopamine. According to the Mayo Clinic, regular exercise not only reduces stress but also improves mood, sleep, and self-confidence — all of which are key to managing the physical and emotional toll of daily stressors. Research also shows that aerobic activity, yoga, and resistance training can significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve cognitive function, and increase emotional resilience.

Mayo Clinic Findings on Exercise and Stress Management

The Mayo Clinic emphasizes that exercise is one of the most effective natural ways to manage stress. Their research-backed insights highlight the following key points:

• Exercise reduces stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, while stimulating endorphin production, which are natural mood elevators and painkillers.

• Regular physical activity improves mood, sleep, and self-confidence, all of which help reduce stress and anxiety.

• Movement helps you shift your focus away from stressors, offering a form of “active meditation” that calms the mind.

• Exercise is linked to improved cardiovascular, digestive, and immune system health, which are all negatively affected by chronic stress.

• Both aerobic activity (like walking or biking) and mind-body practices (like yoga or tai chi) are effective tools for managing stress.

Ultimately, the Mayo Clinic concludes that almost any form of physical activity can be a stress reliever, and even short bursts of movement throughout the day can help reset your mental and emotional state.

So get out your seat and jump around! - House of Pain

Read the Article

• Mayo Clinic Staff. (2025) Exercise and stress: Get moving to manage stress. Mayo Clinic.

Related Peer-Reviews

• Anderson, E., & Shivakumar, G. (2013). Effects of exercise and physical activity on anxiety. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 4, 27.

• Lubans, D., et al. (2016). Physical Activity for Cognitive and Mental Health in Youth: A Systematic Review of Mechanisms. Pediatrics, 138(3).

• Pascoe, M. & Parker, A. (2019). Physical activity and exercise as a universal depression prevention in young people: A narrative review. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 13(4), 733–739.

• Stonerock, G., Hoffman, B., Smith, P., & Blumenthal, J. (2015). Exercise as Treatment for Anxiety: Systematic Review and Analysis. CNS Spectrums, 20(4), 339–347.