Wednesday, April 24, 2013

The Mental Health Benefits of Colorado Taekwondo

Having a handle on your emotions allows you to think more clearly and stay focused, leading to better decision making skills and intellectual accomplishments. It will also allow you to sleep more steadily and soundly, which is essential to cellular rejuvenation and brain health.

It is common knowledge that physical activity improves health and longevity. We run, lift weights, and if we practice Colorado taekwondo, we kick and spar. But many people underestimate are the health benefits taekwondo brings not only from its physical training, but its mental strengthening.

While physical activity is essential to a healthy body, it is only half of the workout you will receive as a taekwondo student. Your taekwondo instructor will place great importance on the practice of calming and focusing your mind into a peaceful state. This isn’t an arbitrary exercise; attaining a calm mind can add years to your life and reduce your risk of illness.

How is this possible? The mental strengthening you will receive from Colorado taekwondo instruction will teach you how to deal with anxiety and stress in your daily life. Having a handle on your emotions allows you to think more clearly and stay focused, leading to better decision making skills and intellectual accomplishments. It will also allow you to sleep more steadily and soundly, which is essential to cellular rejuvenation and brain health.

Just how bad is stress? Bad. Stress activates cytokine molecules, which lead to bodily inflammation, which can increase the risk of cancer and other diseases such as obesity and Alzheimer’s. Research has also found stress linked to advanced aging on a chromosomal level, accelerating the signs of aging by 9 to 17 years. Basically, your body goes into protective mode when you are stressed, making it work harder and run out faster, two things you don’t want to encourage.

The benefits of physical activity, like that you will receive from your taekwondo instructor, are undeniable. They lead to a fuller, healthier life. But the benefits of the mental strengthening you will receive are just as, if not more, important, and should be one of the main motivators of dedicating yourself to Colorado taekwondo. A healthy mind in unison with a healthy body will be your lifelong reward.

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