Endorphins, Serotonin, and Dopamine! How Do We Access Them?

Have you ever noticed that you usually feel better after a workout than you did before? There are many reasons for this mood change and mind state. One of the biggest reasons is because exercise releases endorphins which are feel-good chemicals in the brain. It makes sense that the more endorphins you have floating around, the better you’re going to feel. Sometimes the hardest thing to do after a hard day is get a workout in, but you’re almost guaranteed to feel better if you do. Exercise also increases blood flow which helps to wake the body up. After a long day at work, exercising can actually help you have more energy throughout the rest of your evening.

A lot of people think that the only way to get an endorphin rush is by running or working out super hard, but this isn’t actually the case. You can still get this rush after just 30-45 minutes of moderate intensity exercise. Furthermore, dopamine and serotonin (two more feel-good chemicals) begin releasing as early as 20 minutes into movement. Activities such as yoga, stretching, and walking all release dopamine and serotonin. You don’t have to workout like a maniac to access the feel-good chemical club:) The key is picking a form of movement you enjoy and will consistently do on a day to day basis. The more we understand about our bodies and the impacts of exercise, the better we can feel!