Suzuki mentioned that walking 10 minutes a day can do wonders for your mood, and that strategic sports like football and basketball engage your prefrontal cortex more than other exercises. But Suzuki’s weekly workout routine is very different from most.
“I got back into exercise after being addicted to the couch thanks to this incredible form of training,” Suzuki said. “It’s called intenSati.”
The first half of the name “inten” comes from the word “intention,” Suzuki explained. “Sati is a Pali word that means mindfulness or awareness.”
Cardio Plus Mantras Is This Neuroscientist’s Favorite Exercise for Brain Health
IntenSati involves moving your body while saying affirmations out loud, Suzuki explains. The program was created by Patricia Moreno in 2002.
“This workout combines high-energy cardio moves with high-emotion mantras that will leave you feeling uplifted, connected, and strong,” according to intenSati’s official website.
Saying positive affirmations out loud can have a big impact on your outlook on life and your overall mood, Suzuki said.
“If you scream that you believe you will succeed, that you are inspired, that you are strong, for an entire hour with a whole group of other people sweating and screaming affirmations, you walk out of that class feeling incredible.”
A recent study at the University of California, Berkeley, encouraged 135 undergraduate students to say compassionate things to each other for 20 seconds a day, paired with a loving touch like placing a hand on their heart. After a month of consistent practice, the students reported feeling less stress and seeing improvements in their mental health.
“But no matter what form of training you do, any time of day is the best time to train because our lives are so busy,” Suzuki said.
A 2022 study that looked at health information from more than 500,000 people found that people who regularly engaged in vigorous physical activity like exercise and sports reduced their risk of developing dementia by 35%.
But even doing household chores regularly reduces the risk by 21%.
“Every drop of sweat counts for your brain,” she said, “and that’s good news.”
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