Spanish language course and Walking holidays – Green (and Blue) Exercise Boosts Mental Health

In defence of the Spanish language and walking holidays we run in the Pyrenees I remember an article on how living  near green spaces can be shown to improve mental health. Thanks Paul for routing it out for me!  Add these findings to those of a  previous article on my blog on how exercise is shown to aid mental agility and memory and it therefore makes sense that  ‘green exercise’ should reap the benefits of both the ‘green’ and the  ‘exercise’.  Now this BBC article implies that adding a touch of  ‘blue’  i.e. a river or a lake,  and stress levels and depression drop even more. Here are just a few facts I have gleaned about the benefits of  exercise on mind, body and spirit – I welcome more information if anyone has it.

• Physical exercise is critical to mental agility and memory.
• A rich social life can help improve mental sharpness.
• Just 5 minutes exercise in a park can boost mental health.
• Living near green spaces shows a positive effect on anxiety disorders and depression; also coronary heart disease and diabetes.
• Children younger than 12 were less likely to suffer depression in the greener areas.
• Regular running or aerobic exercise in the over 50´s can dramatically slow the ageing process; remarkably slowing down the rate of death from heart disease, heart attacks, cancer and neurological diseases.

For more facts on how green exercise can benefit mind, body and spirit have a look at the link below.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8654350.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7554293.stm

John, Paul, Sonja and David after a dip in the river near Arizkun