July 07, 2023 2 min read

Exercise is one of the best ways to reduce stress and make you a little more relaxed.

Exercise can decrease stress hormones like cortisol, and increase endorphins, your body’s ‘feel-good’ chemicals, giving your mood a natural boost, says Keiana Armani, certified fitness trainer & CEO of Indigobluestyle. Below we’ve rounded up the best exercises to relax both your body and mind.

Best Relaxing Exercises to Reduce Stress

YOGA

Yoga is an excellent stress-relief exercise, involving a series of moving and stationary poses, or postures, combined with deep breathing. Yoga encourages mental and physical relaxation, which helps reduce stress and anxiety. The physical postures promote flexibility, relieve tension, and alleviate pain.

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PILATES

Pilates improves your ability to respond to and cope with stress, enhancing your stress resilience. Pilates also tones your body, which in turn helps you look good and feel better. Since pilates is all about de-stressing both body and mind, this workout will help you to feel your best!

Get the best pilates moves to try now>>

HIKING

Hiking is a great weight-bearing exercise that can clear your mind while toning your body. Hiking helps increase the strength in the leg muscles, builds stability in the core muscles and enhances balance skills. Spending quality time in the great outdoors reduces stress, calms anxiety, and can lead to a lower risk of depression.

RUNNING

Running is a super effective way to ward off stress, better your health and even increase your energy! Because of its cardiovascular benefits, ability to reduce body fat, and the improved muscle tone you'll experience, running makes you feel better about yourself too.

SWIMMING

Swimming is a killer cardio exercise! It targets mainly large muscle groups working together at the same time which enhances your cardiovascular strength. They help to increase positivity and bring about a sense of wellbeing and happiness and help you to de-stress your mind without heavy stress on the body.