Emotional & Mental Stress Plus Exercising

We all know typically exercise is good for us and is something we should engage in most days of the week. However are there times when it is detrimental? Possibly…

I replied to a client earlier with advice to exercise based on her mental and emotional state. This is an area I feel is overlooked when it comes to exercise recommendations.

We all know typically exercise is good for us and is something we should engage in most days of the week. However are there times when it is detrimental? Possibly…

I have had times where I have told clients I am not training them that day, or at least not in the way they are anticipating anyway. There have been times when I have advised clients to avoid any strenuous exercise. Obviously when ill this is recommended, however, in the cases above it has been due to the client’s emotional or mental state and the stress they already have on their body.

Intense exercise, when the body is already highly stressed, can potentially add excessive amounts of stress that isn’t beneficial to health or overall well-being. In these cases, my sessions will often result in stretching, light exercise, a chat or maybe my client offloading what is going on in their life. Many tears have been shed at times throughout PT sessions.

This is an area I am conscious of myself after pushing myself to continue exercising when my levels of stress were highly elevated. It wasn’t wise and resulted in a massive spiral downward. My body was giving me warning signs such as fatigue, anxiousness and reduced immunity but I ignored them and certainly paid the price for my ignorance.

This doesn’t mean however exercise should be skipped due to being a bit tired or frustrated from work. In these instances, exercise can be highly beneficial due to the energy and endorphins gained from activity.

I am referring to those dealing with chronic levels of elevated stress from ongoing events in their life, not just a bad day. So sorry, you won’t find any excuses in this blog 🤣 and I am sure I have heard them all.

I find emotional stress to be highly draining on my energy levels, and I am always conscious of stress with those I work with as it can have such an impact on their overall goals and habits they engage in. It is certainly more challenging to change behaviours and be committed to goals when under high levels of stress.

For those dealing with ongoing stress, I will often encourage all the usual go-to recommendations – mindfulness, meditation, healthy nutrition, quality sleep, gentle exercise and seeing someone who specialises in that area if necessary.

However, we all cope with stress differently and can tolerate different amounts. In essence, exercise can be one of the best things you can do for your health and well-being, however, if you feel like you are being pushed beyond your limits, at breaking point or your health is deteriorating, please reach out for support or professional help. Believe me, it is not worth pushing through.