JUMP FOR JOY

It's been well documented that regular movement can boost your mood, lower stress, and help manage anxiety and depression. But as we focus more and more on the mind-body connection, there's a new school of thought that says certain exercise routines can induce joy by influencing our biochemistry to release "happy hormones".

- SASHA SANDHER

Since the 1980s, when aerobics became all the rage, we have all been bombarded with messages about the physical benefits of exercise. Even now, the new mantra is "strong is the new skinny", and as we scroll our Instagram feeds we see influencer after influencer with perfectly toned limbs, strong cores, gymnastic-level flexibility, and no hint of cellulite. Of course, there's no denying that the only way to achieve such things is to get off the sofa, or away from your desk, and head to the gym, but since 2023 is the year of "soft living" and "body realism", we are moving away from breaking our bodies and more towards protecting our mental health.

This mindset is having a huge impact on the way professionals are approaching building workouts. Dr. Kelly McGonigal, a psychologist specialising in emotions who has also taught group exercises for 20 years, has developed a routine based on research which not only uses 'joyful movements' but elicits feelings of joy too. Only eight minutes long, the sequence focuses on movements that are inspired by light-hearted activities, such as dancing or going to a concert.

The series goes through six motions: reach, sway, bounce, shake, jump for joy, and 'celebrate' (which is much like tossing confetti in the air). The routine is adaptable, and Dr. Kelly suggests doing each move in a way that feels good in your mind and body; whether that be powerful, playful, or graceful. The important part is to do what feels right for you. Those who have tried the routine reported a real uplift in their emotions, but there's a science at work too.