Educators Benefit from Regular Exercise

To coincide with National Women’s Health Week, we wanted to bring attention to our message that strength training, regular exercise, and better rest are all important components for assuring that teachers remain fit, alert, and up for the physically demanding job of teaching.

Marcus and I made this point in a blog post for Edutopia, entitled “Good News for Teachers: Exercise Builds Brain Power, Too.”

Among the facts you should consider to increase your well-being as well as teaching effectiveness:

• Regular physical activity is associated with increased production of the neurochemical BDNF, which supports the production of new neurons and synapses in your brain.
• Exercise increases mass in areas of the brain involved in executive function, memory, and spatial processing.
• The cardiovascular health effects of exercise increase the growth of blood vessels that improve oxygen flow to the brain.
• Regular workouts help relieve stress, alleviate symptoms of depression, and enhance a positive outlook.