Exercise for Mental Health: Key 1, Make it Fun! My "8 Keys" Book Launch at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort

23 Mar Exercise for Mental Health: Key 1, Make it Fun! (My “8 Keys” book launch at Zion Ponderosa’s Women’s Adventure Retreat!)

Posted at 16:22h in Mental Health by Dr. Christina Hibbert 0 Comments

Exercise for Mental Health-Key 1, Make it Fun! My %228 Keys%22 Book Launch at Zion Ponderosa Women's Adventure Retreat www.DrChristinaHibbert.com

When it comes to mental health, happiness, and life satisfaction, there’s one common denominator: exercise.

The research on exercise and mental health is clear and solid: exercise is like medicine in the treatment of mental issues and disorders. From greater creativity, insight, and spiritual connection, to higher energy, less stress, and better sleep; from calming the anxious mind to relieving the depressed spirit, exercise is key. I’ve long been an advocate of exercise for mental health, but after writing “8 Keys to Mental Health Through Exercise,” I have a new, eye-opened appreciation for the power of physical activity in our lives.

Exercise for Mental Health, Happiness & Life Satisfaction!

Exercise for Mental Health at ZionPonderosa Resort!

Rock wall climbing at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort

When many of us think of exercise, however, we think of pain or suffering or misery! Just the other day, while visiting my mother-in-law, I was doing my “P90X, Kenpo X” workout. When she saw me breathing heavy and sweating like crazy, she said, “This is what makes me want to run from exercise. When I see you doing that, it looks so hard, and that’s what makes me feel like I just want to go to the beach and read a book instead.”

Now, let me tell you, my mother-in-law is highly active. She’s a wonderful example of keeping moving, no matter your age–playing pickleball almost every morning for several hours! But to her, what I was doing didn’t look like fun at all. And even though it’s not necessarily my idea of “fun” either, it is fun for me to do different activities to keep my body adapting and changing in new and healthy ways, and that’s exactly what I was doing.

Hear this: You don’t have to suffer through exercise. You can, and should make it fun for you! Do what you find enjoyable. My husband golfs and plays basketball. My mother-in-law plays pickleball. My sons lift heavy weights. My daughters run on the golf course with the dog, ride bikes, and play tag. I don’t do any of these things regularly, like they do. I do what I like to do–walking, jogging, hiking, Pilates, yoga, kickboxing, bike-riding, weight-lifting, core training, and back in the day, I used to enjoy teaching step aerobics! (Yes, I was one of those up there with my leotard and tights calling out, “up, up, down, down, turn step, step kick….)

Times change, and so do our interests, but one thing remains the same: exercise can be, and should be fun!

Fun, Adventure, and Exercise for Mental Health: Zion Ponderosa Women’s Getaway!

Isn’t this place gorgeous?! Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort.

So, get this. My brand new book, “8 Keys to Mental Health Through Exercise” officially comes out on April 26th (unofficially, you can pre-order through Norton.com with code HIBBERT, get 25% off, free shipping, and get it now!).

Guess where I will be on April 26th? At an incredible women’s adventure retreat at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort! They’ve invited me, as a guest blogger, to experience this retreat with all kinds of amazing activities and natural beauty, and it just happens to be the same week as the release of my new book on exercise! Talk about meant-to-be!

8 Keys to Mental Health Through Exercise_978-0-393-71122-6 copy

Horseback riding is a great physical activity, too!

And talk about making exercise fun! For an entire week, I will be hiking, rock climbing, horseback riding, zip-lining, ATV-riding, rapelling, and exploring the grandeur of Zion National Park. I will also get to go paint-balling, sand surfing in the sand dunes, swimming surrounded by the beauty of Utah, and on a helicopter tour! And the best part? I get to share it all with you through Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, here on this blog, and even on my radio show, Motherhood!

Zion Ponderosa’s Retreat is a perfect example of making exercise fun, adventurous, and enjoyable. It’s a way to reap the mental and physical health benefits of exercise while touching nature in a grand fashion. (Just see the amazing pictures in this post!)

I cannot wait to get out, have some fun, and be adventurous at this getaway retreat, which has been called the “Best Active Women’s Getaway Experience.” (For more on Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort, and their Women’s Getaway, click here.)

5 Ways to Make Exercise more Fun

I realize we can’t all go away on an adventure retreat. I was just lucky that they selected me to participate. And certainly, we can’t do big adventurous activities every day. But, we can apply the same idea of fun and adventure to our daily lives, and when we do so, we will reap all the incredible benefits exercise has to offer. Here are a few ways to get started today!

1) Pick activities that make you smile. It doesn’t have to be an exercise video, jogging, or going to the

The benefits of hiking–incredible views! Mark Wade, from Zion Ponderosa, at Observation Point.

gym. Exercise can include dancing, swimming, Zumba, playing with your kids, rollerblading, and so much more! Pick activities that get you moving while helping you have fun. Pick activities that you love!

2) Get outdoors! Exercising outside is not only beneficial because it gets you moving; it also gets you into the sun, which has been shown to improve mood, too. Nature is also an important element in boosting the mental health benefits of exercise. The more you get outside to get moving, the happier you’ll feel!

3) Try something new. If you’re not sure what you enjoy, pick something you’ve always wanted to try and go for it. Perhaps you want to go kayaking or try paddle-boarding, or give skiing or snowboarding a try with some lessons. It’s good for us to break out of our rut by trying something new, and especially by trying something adventurous. You just might find a new favorite activity, and in the meantime, your brain and body will enjoy learning new skills.

4) Exercise with those you love. Friends, family, your partner–whomever you enjoy being around,

Ziplining–a new adventure at Zion Ponderosa Resort.

exercise with them. This not only improves your own mental and physical health; it will improve your family member’s health, and can also improve your relationships. That’s a win-win, and plus, it’s a lot more fun being adventurous and active together!

5) Let loose! Don’t hold yourself back for fear of looking or feeling silly. If you feel like dancing, crank up the music and dance! If you feel like riding your bike along the beach, go for it! If you want to try a new class at the gym, give it a shot! When we let go of our inhibitions, exercise becomes fun. When exercise is fun, we enjoy it, and stick with it, so much better.

For more on exercise and mental health, check out my new book, “8 Keys to Mental Health Through Exercise.”