5 Reasons Why Martial Arts Keeps You Happy

Whether it’s work, school, that upcoming event, or other commitments, there’s always something out there to stress us out. Unfortunately, we sometimes let the stress get to us and end up focusing on the negative things. As a result, we make ourselves miserable and sometimes take a long time to feel 100% again.

If you find that the first paragraph really speaks to you, then perhaps it’s time to combat the stress and find a way to keep yourself happy! After all, life is too short to focus on the negative stuff when there are so many other positive things out there. And at the end of the day, all you have is this life you’re leading – so why not strive to make it an awesome one worth living?

Want to find out how you can get that smile back on your face? Then read on. Today, American Karate Institute reveals 5 Reasons Why Martial Arts Keeps You Happy.

It increases the production of dopamine

Dopamine is a chemical in your brain that is necessary for feelings of happiness and pleasure. Unfortunately, as we grow older, our bodies lose dopamine. According to the College of Pharmacy at the University of Texas, it is estimated that 6 to 7 percent of our receptors that accompany approval and pleasure are lost with every decade.

But before you let this piece of information stress you out, here’s the good news: training martial arts can help increase the production of dopamine! Apart from that, your body also releases endorphins – which also play a part in helping you feel great after working out.

It gives you a good night's rest

Do you have trouble sleeping at night? If you’re an insomniac, then your solution to a good night’s sleep is training martial arts! A new study reveals that those who get at least 150 minutes of exercise a week tend to sleep better and feel more alert during the day.

We’re pretty sure you know how important it is to get at least 7 hours of quality sleep every night! Besides enabling your body to repair itself, sleep also plays a part in healthy brain function and emotional well-being. There’s a reason why you’ll be in a good mood and feel like you can take on the world the morning after getting some quality ZZZ’s!

It helps you cope with stress better

Besides enabling you to leave your worries behind and sweat out all that negative energy (for an hour at least), training martial arts can actually help you become less stressed out in the long run as well. This is because you’re subjecting yourself to a low-level form of stress – by getting your heart racing and triggering hormonal changes – whenever you engage in intense physical activity.

You might not realize it, but subjecting yourself to this kind of stress helps your body to eventually become immune to it, and hence, you’ll get better at handling all other kinds of stressors that life brings. Psst! That warrior spirit you gain from training would also play a part in helping you press on in the face of adversity!

It keeps depression at bay

An estimated 1 in 10 adults suffer from some form of depression (and this doesn’t even include those that are unreported!) However, instead of turning to prescription meds, you’d be better off training martial arts – because exercise helps to keep your mood in check.

According to James Blumenthal, PhD, a clinical psychologist at Duke University, there’s good epidemiological data to suggest that active people are less depressed as compared to their inactive counterparts. He goes on to mention that exercise not only helps with treating depression, but also in preventing relapse. So the next time you feel any kind of blues, why not head to your nearest martial arts gym to kick depression’s ass!

It builds up your self-confidence

The Cleveland Clinic suggests spending 20 to 30 minutes exercising daily and picking activities you enjoy so you’ll be more likely to be consistent and keep those pounds off while boosting your confidence.

Training martial arts is a great way to develop your confidence, especially when you’re mastering all kinds of techniques, and not to mention, toning your body! What’s more, you’d feel stronger and a great sense of accomplishment whenever you achieve goals and go beyond your limits – and we’re pretty sure this would contribute to your happiness.

CONTACT AMERICAN KARATE INSTITUTE TODAY

At the American Karate Institute, we teach a way of life. Our Miami martial arts school and MMA Classes has developed a well thought out curriculum that teaches more than just the art of self-defense. We delve deep into our students’ technique, skill set, intelligence, intuition and overall physical fitness. Contact us today if you’re interested in mixed martial arts and self-defense classes and schedule your free-trial class!