🧠 Moving for Your Mind: How Exercise Supports Mental Health
- Madeleine Kish
- Jul 21
- 3 min read
For a long time, I thought about exercise mostly in terms of physical health, as something you “should” do to stay fit, lose weight, or tick a box. But recently, I’ve been exploring a more meaningful question: How does movement actually make me feel?
The answer has been eye-opening.
Inspired by the book Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by Dr. John Ratey, I’ve been learning more about how exercise doesn’t just shape our bodies- it literally reshapes our brains. It’s not just a fitness tool. It’s a mental health tool. And it’s one I’ve started using with far more compassion and curiosity than ever before.
So in this post, I want to share some of what I’ve learned about the brain-boosting power of movement and how it connects so well with the work I do in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy.
🏃♀️ What Happens in the Brain When We Move?
Dr. Ratey explains that exercise can act like “Miracle-Gro for the brain.” And once you understand the science, it’s easy to see why.
When you move your body, even just a little, your brain responds with a whole range of benefits:
Endorphins are released (natural feel-good chemicals that lift your moo
Dopamine and serotonin increase (which helps with motivation, focus, and emotional balance)
Cortisol levels go down (which means less stress and fewer racing thoughts)
BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) grows (supporting memory, learning, and mental flexibility)
What’s exciting is that you don’t have to do an intense workout to feel these effects. A brisk walk, a stretch, or even a few minutes of dancing can start to create change. It’s about consistent, gentle movement- not punishment.
💬 Movement and Mental Health: My Own Experience
Over the past few months, I’ve been experimenting with different ways of moving that feel good rather than forced. Some days, that means walking in nature. Other times, it’s yoga in the living room or just putting on music and dancing around the kitchen.
I’ve noticed that when I move regularly, even in small ways, I feel more grounded. I sleep better, I think more clearly, and I feel more like myself again.
It’s been a reminder that mental health isn’t just about mindset. It’s about supporting the brain and body as a whole. And that’s why movement can be such a valuable part of the journey.
🧘♀️ Where Hypnotherapy Fits In
In Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, we talk a lot about the brain, especially how the primitive brain responds to stress, and how the intellectual brain helps us move forward. Exercise, it turns out, is a brilliant way to shift power from the anxious, reactive part of the brain to the calm, logical part.
When clients begin to incorporate even gentle movement into their week, they often notice:
More emotional balance
Improved sleep
Better focus
A greater sense of control
Pair that with the deep relaxation and future-focused mindset we build in hypnotherapy, and it becomes a really effective combination.
💡 Starting Small Makes a Big Difference
If movement feels daunting right now, that’s okay. You don’t have to leap into a full workout routine. Instead, try asking yourself, “What kind of movement would feel kind and doable today?”
Here are a few gentle ideas:
A short walk in fresh air
Stretching for five minutes between tasks
Putting on music and moving your body however feels good
Gardening, tidying, or anything that gets you physically engaged
📞 Ready to Support Your Mind from the Inside Out?
Exploring your relationship with movement can be a powerful part of improving your mental health. Combined with the support of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, it can help you feel calmer, clearer, and more confident in your day-to-day life.
If you're curious about how this approach could help you, I’d love to have a conversation.
👉 Book your free consultation today and let’s talk about the small steps that can lead to big changes- both in your brain and your life.
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