Why Working Out Isn’t About Sweating As Much As Possible

For Jess, mindful workouts are about feeling calm and grounded.
“I love yoga and walking in nature,” she says. Incorporating low-intensity activities like these on rest days keeps your cortisol levels in check and prevents stress on your body. It’s so important to balance your workouts with rest. Try yoga sequences on the JSHealth app at home anytime, like work-from-home breaks and in your usual AM yoga studio slot. You can even sync your fitness-tracking app so they count as part of Nimble’s mindful workout challenge!

Her mantra?
“A healthy life does not mean a perfect life. I do everything with kindness and balance.” 

After a busy day, things get upside down. (In the best way!)
“I lay down in an L-shape with my feet up against a wall for 10 minutes. I call it the JSHealth Stress-Free Zone.” Try it yourself to activate the parasympathetic nervous system (in place of the sympathetic or fight or flight response) to lower cortisol levels. 

Why there's more to a workout than breaking a sweat...
“Working out isn't just about sweating as much as possible, losing your breath, or exhausting your adrenal glands.” Mindful workouts nourish both the body and the mind, helping to release stress while intense workouts actually increase your stress response before stress-busting benefits can arise. “Exercise should be about moving your body in ways YOU love and appreciating the chance to move."