smart + special
Did you know that exercise makes you smarter?
I’m serious! Every time you work out – especially if it’s cardio – you increase the blood flow to your brain. When you get your heart pumping, the blood circulates up your spinal cord, through your brain stem, and that grows new blood cells and neurons (the stuff that keeps you eating, breathing, walking, talking, thinking, everything).
In a study, a group of people were trained in mat pilates for 6 months and tested for their cognitive ability before and after. The tests showed huge improvements in memory, comprehension, and neuronal growth. Basically, pilates made these people smarter! There have been similar studies that followed people long-term – these actually found that the more exercise you do, the less likely you are to develop dementia/Alzheimer's and the faster you can recover from strokes/heart attacks.
By increasing your neuroplasticity (ability to grow new neurons), your brain not only keeps up with the tasks of daily life, but is also more open to new experiences and growth. You become a happier, healthier person who thrives rather than survives!
Every time you move your body, you get to be smarter for longer. Neat, huh?
“Comparison is the thief of joy. Gratitude is the restorer of happiness.” - my friend, Kiki Welty
Here’s the cheat code to life… it totally works, I swear!
Humans are so complex… we are all products of our context - where we’re born, our parents’ income, the color of our skin. When there are infinite combinations of factors that make us who we are, there are also infinite definitions of success. The more we understand that, the dumber it feels to measure ourselves against other people, right?
Instead of thinking of all the things we are lacking, we can shift our attention to all the things we have, all the things we know, and all the things we are. This small practice of gratitude leads to huge changes in our reality. We learn to maximize our own potential and see ourselves as uniquely special- as small, but integral parts of the mosaic that makes our universe.
Today, I’m grateful for my laptop, my friend Kiki Welty, and my ambition. What about you?
[Hey, I’m lydia - I started my coaching business to help people get fit for good. My clients typically come to me with a goal of weight loss or muscle gain, and we figure out how to make that happen through diet, exercise, and mindset shifts. I work with a wide variety of people in and out of the Portland area- if you’re looking to start a fitness journey, check out my services!
This is my newsletter, the monday message, and it goes out (you guessed it!) every monday. It’s a space for me to share knowledge and encouragement with my community. Also, it’s a great example of my coaching philosophy… If you want all this good stuff directly in your inbox, hit the link to sign up below! Welcome to the hungry hippie family. i am so happy you’re here]
