May 15 - Punching it out

Day 135 of a year of Kindness

I have taken advantage of some personal training at the YMCA after my winter of chocolate. On my way to the gym, I made the mistake of listening to the news. When I got there, I just felt like hitting something. So, that’s what I did. Lori, the best YMCA trainer ever, showed me how to punch. We turned on some music and punched and swerved around the punching bags. At the end, I felt so much better. Lori revealed that the anxiety she had earlier was gone. She left me with some words of wisdom: “Sometimes punching the shit out of something helps.” It’s also very kind to your body and state of mind.

Science of kindness: Research shows that exercise of any kind, including hitting a punching bag, offers stress-relieving benefits. When hitting the punching bag, your brain increases production of endorphins that create feel-good thoughts in your brain. It also helps relieve muscle tension that can collect when you experience stress. Focusing on an activity, like punching, keeps you grounded in the moment, which relieves you of your stressors. #kindnessiscontagious #kindnessisfree #kindness #YMCA #punchingbag