Work it out with Exercise

By: Anita VasudevanSven Joergens-Kokate

Alex LangeCristina Cornejo

How powering up your body can power up your mind…

The Problem

• People are playing more video games and not exercising as much.

• Going to IA makes it sometimes difficult for people to get to their home high schools on time to play sports.

• People just do not have time.• A lot of people don't realize exercising can be

fun!

Research Question

How does physical activity improve teens’ mental health?

How can the IA make physical activity more available to its students in order to improve their mental health?

DefinitionsMental Health- A person's overall emotional and psychological condition.

World Health Organization's definitions of mental health-a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.

Physical Exercise- is any bodily activity that increases or maintains physical fitness and overall health.

Reasons for Physical Exercise- To gain strength, build muscle mass, lose weight, conditioning for a sport, to become more active, improve the heart, to boost the immune system, and to improve mental health and fight depression.

Clinical Depression- A pervasive low mood, low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJX_Py3mjiw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgJBCRtEy1U

How does Physical Activity benefit YOUR mental health?

With more physical activity...

• YOU will have a better self-esteem!• YOU will have reduced anxiety!• YOU will be less stressed out!• YOU will improve the quality of your life!• YOU will prevent future mental health

problems!

And that's not all!

• YOU will be more alert!• YOUR ability to learn will be better!• YOUR mood will be elevated!• YOU will reduce your chance of becoming

chronically depressed!• YOU will have BETTER MENTAL HEALTH!!

Research and StatisticsMany researchers have observed the effects of

physical activity on mental health•They have found that males who don't participate in sports are 2.5 times more likely to report suicidal behavior than those that do, and

• Females who don't participate in sports are 1.67 times more likely to report suicidal behavior than those that do.

•They have found significantly lower rates of feelings of hopelessness and suicide in the minds of athletes than in those of non-athletes.

Exercise creates chemicals in YOUR brain!

•When you exercise frequently and rigorously, your body creates a type of endorphins called beta-endorphins. Endorphins are hormone-like chemicals that are produced naturally in the body. They relieve pain and create a lightened sense, similar to drugs such as heroin and morphine.

•Unlike these harmful drugs, though, endorphins do not have a negative effect on your body. In your brain, they latch onto receptors, which makes your synapses send messages filled with positive emotions.

•In addition, exercise decreases the amount of stress hormones, such as cortisol, leaving you feeling less stressed out

You don't have to exercise for hours to benefit!

Within just 10 minutes of exercising vigorously, you will feel an improvement in your mood.

For best effects, cardiovascular and aerobic exercise is recommended

Yoga is also proven to be a very effective method for improving mood, because it relieves tension and generates positive feelings.

But to benefit physically as well, it is good to exercise for 30 minutes every day!

Ideas to get Active!

• Basic Ideas– Do sports at your home high school– Do intramural sports at the IA – Bring a ball or Frisbee to school and

organize a game outback with your friends.

More Ideas to Get Active!

• Are sports not your thing:– Yoga for 20-30 minutes for 3-5 days a week– Pick up a new hobby like dance etc.

More Ideas to Get Active!

• Do a fitness-related enrichment! – Fitness Challenge– Yoga and Relaxation Techniques– Pilates– Tai Chi– International Sports– And many more…

How to Start…

• Show people that playing sports is not only fun and that you can make new friends

• You can play a sport with someone you already know, to make it more interesting and easier to start.

• If your parents can't drive you to your home high school, you can car pool, chances are someone else from IA plays a sport at that school too.

• Some examples of things you can do are basketball, football, soccer, frisbee, bike riding, and capture the flag.

If you do not know where to start…

DO SKI AND SNOWBOARD CLUB!!

Registration is today during lunch!

Some Advice

• Schedule a time for physical activity in your daily routine

• Set goals for yourself (make sure they are reasonable)

• Tailor your physical activity for yourself! You are the one doing it!

Fun Part

• http://www.youtube.com/watchv=zS0lSWVcMfI&feature=related

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibEXYHUfJBM• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWeOzoMFsVs• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi2AQHKHccQ

Works Cited

• http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/article/Exercise_Endorphins

• http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/fit/work_it_out.html

• http://209.180.175.75/becalmd/images/cocaine2.jpg

• http://www.painrelief101.com/natural-health-treatments/bodys-morphine-endorphins.htm

Works Cited

•http://www.youtube.com/watchv=CJX_Py3mjiw

•http://www.youtube.com/watchv=JgJBCRtEy1U

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS0lSWVcMfI&feature=

related

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibEXYHUfJBM

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWeOzoMFsVshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi2AQHKHccQ