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The Joy of Movement: How Exercise Helps Us Find Happiness, Hope, Connection, and Courage
Kelly McGonigal, autorka bestsellera Siła woli, przedstawia zaskakującą, opartą na badaniach naukowych książkę, która podpowiada, jak zakochać się w ruchu. Bo choć aktywność fizyczna sprzyja zdrowiu i wydłuża życie, wiele osób traktuje ją jak uciążliwy obowiązek. Autorka dowodzi, że nie musi tak być. Ruch może i powinien być źródłem radości.
Z właściwą sobie umiejętnością łączenia nauki z wciągającymi historiami Kelly McGonigal czerpie ze zdobyczy neurologii, psychologii, antropologii i biologii ewolucyjnej, a także etnografii i filozofii. Pokazuje, że ruch jest nierozerwalnie związany z najbardziej pierwotnymi źródłami radości – wyrażaniem siebie, więziami społecznymi oraz dążeniem do mistrzostwa – i stanowi skuteczne antidotum na współczesne epidemie depresji, lęku i samotności.
Książka jest wynikiem badań nad zależnościami między aktywnością fizyczną a poczuciem szczęścia. Opisuje, jak ruch kształtuje i uszlachetnia ludzką naturę. Dowiesz się stąd, że aktywność fizyczna nie tylko sprzyja przetrwaniu, ale także daje – na poziomie układu nerwowego, mózgu i mięśni – zachętę do życia. Poznasz fascynujący ciąg przyczynowo-skutkowy i wprowadzisz go do własnego ż jeśli będziesz się ruszać, mięśnie dadzą Ci nadzieję, a mózg – dostęp do wrodzonych źródeł przyjemności, od satysfakcji po dreszcz emocji związany z szybkością i siłą. To nie znów odkryjesz, jak cudownych ludzi masz dookoła siebie!
Skorzystaj z zawartych w książce pomysłów, jak dzięki potędze ruchu odnaleźć szczęście, poczuć sens istnienia i wzmocnić bliskość, i zrealizuj je we własnym życiu i własnej społeczności.
Dowiedz się, dlaczego aktywność
pozytywnie uzależnia i buduje wytrwałość
przynosi prawdziwą radość i poczucie szczęścia
wzmacnia więzi z innymi ludźmi
pozwala cieszyć się życiem
poprawia zdrowie i przywraca młodość!
Zakochaj się w ruchu – a świat zakocha się w Tobie!
O autorze
Kelly McGonigal — psycholożka zdrowia i wykładowczyni na Uniwersytecie Stanforda. Od 2000 roku uczy tańca, jogi i prowadzi zajęcia fitness. Jest autorką kilku bestsellerów, w których przystępnie i angażująco wyjaśnia zagadnienia z dziedziny psychologii, fizjologii i neurologii oraz popularyzuje skuteczne strategie poprawy zdrowia i dobrego samopoczucia.
Z właściwą sobie umiejętnością łączenia nauki z wciągającymi historiami Kelly McGonigal czerpie ze zdobyczy neurologii, psychologii, antropologii i biologii ewolucyjnej, a także etnografii i filozofii. Pokazuje, że ruch jest nierozerwalnie związany z najbardziej pierwotnymi źródłami radości – wyrażaniem siebie, więziami społecznymi oraz dążeniem do mistrzostwa – i stanowi skuteczne antidotum na współczesne epidemie depresji, lęku i samotności.
Książka jest wynikiem badań nad zależnościami między aktywnością fizyczną a poczuciem szczęścia. Opisuje, jak ruch kształtuje i uszlachetnia ludzką naturę. Dowiesz się stąd, że aktywność fizyczna nie tylko sprzyja przetrwaniu, ale także daje – na poziomie układu nerwowego, mózgu i mięśni – zachętę do życia. Poznasz fascynujący ciąg przyczynowo-skutkowy i wprowadzisz go do własnego ż jeśli będziesz się ruszać, mięśnie dadzą Ci nadzieję, a mózg – dostęp do wrodzonych źródeł przyjemności, od satysfakcji po dreszcz emocji związany z szybkością i siłą. To nie znów odkryjesz, jak cudownych ludzi masz dookoła siebie!
Skorzystaj z zawartych w książce pomysłów, jak dzięki potędze ruchu odnaleźć szczęście, poczuć sens istnienia i wzmocnić bliskość, i zrealizuj je we własnym życiu i własnej społeczności.
Dowiedz się, dlaczego aktywność
pozytywnie uzależnia i buduje wytrwałość
przynosi prawdziwą radość i poczucie szczęścia
wzmacnia więzi z innymi ludźmi
pozwala cieszyć się życiem
poprawia zdrowie i przywraca młodość!
Zakochaj się w ruchu – a świat zakocha się w Tobie!
O autorze
Kelly McGonigal — psycholożka zdrowia i wykładowczyni na Uniwersytecie Stanforda. Od 2000 roku uczy tańca, jogi i prowadzi zajęcia fitness. Jest autorką kilku bestsellerów, w których przystępnie i angażująco wyjaśnia zagadnienia z dziedziny psychologii, fizjologii i neurologii oraz popularyzuje skuteczne strategie poprawy zdrowia i dobrego samopoczucia.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 31, 2019
958 people are currently reading
8377 people want to read
About the author
Kelly McGonigal
29 books1,666 followersKelly McGonigal, PhD, is a health psychologist and lecturer at Stanford University, an award-winning science journalist, and a leading expert on the mind-body relationship. Her teaching and writing focus on the applications of psychological science to personal health and happiness, as well as public policy and social change.
She is the author of The Upside of Stress (Penguin Random House/Avery 2015), The Willpower Instinct(Penguin/Avery 2012), Yoga for Pain Relief (New Harbinger 2009), and The Neuroscience of Change: A Compassion-Based Guide to Personal Transformation (Sounds True Audio, 2012).
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kellymcgoniga...
She is the author of The Upside of Stress (Penguin Random House/Avery 2015), The Willpower Instinct(Penguin/Avery 2012), Yoga for Pain Relief (New Harbinger 2009), and The Neuroscience of Change: A Compassion-Based Guide to Personal Transformation (Sounds True Audio, 2012).
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kellymcgoniga...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 469 reviews
February 7, 2020
As with a lot of popular psychology, the central ideas here could be presented in a pamphlet but have been padded out to book length with inspiring anecdotes and biographical information about the author. Here’s the main ideas from this book: exercise makes you feel better physically and mentally and especially if it’s moderately challenging exercise done regularly, group exercise is good for forming bonds with others and exercise can help you perform - physically and mentally - better as you age.
There was nothing terrible about this book, the anecdotes about endurance athletes and people taking up exercise after ill health were fine. The arguments were all backed up by evidence. It just didn’t move beyond what most people already know about the benefits of exercise and ultimately it felt a little thin to me.
There was nothing terrible about this book, the anecdotes about endurance athletes and people taking up exercise after ill health were fine. The arguments were all backed up by evidence. It just didn’t move beyond what most people already know about the benefits of exercise and ultimately it felt a little thin to me.
January 11, 2020
I am lucky enough to have taken several of Kelly McGonigal's Psychology classes and I have always been a huge fan. When I saw this book was coming out, I knew I would read it no matter what and I knew it would be fantastic no matter what.
And it was.
It's chock full of research about how movement can help with depression, loneliness and isolation. How we all need community and how movement can really help with that. It has a lot of inspiring stories and a lot of science. The perfect combination for all varieties of readers.
I have big movement plans for 2020, so I will be coming back to this one again and again to help remind myself of all of its gifts.
If you need any inspiration at all, this is the book for you.
And it was.
It's chock full of research about how movement can help with depression, loneliness and isolation. How we all need community and how movement can really help with that. It has a lot of inspiring stories and a lot of science. The perfect combination for all varieties of readers.
I have big movement plans for 2020, so I will be coming back to this one again and again to help remind myself of all of its gifts.
If you need any inspiration at all, this is the book for you.
January 18, 2020
Ugh this book made me so mad. Nothing in here that couldn’t be just as easily found in a Buzzfeed listicle “10 Reasons Exercise Makes Your Life Better” and tons of self-congratulatory prose on how Kelly McGonigal is SUCH a great exerciser!
If you want to be inspired and energized by the power of movement, get a dose of science, and a compelling personal story to boot, read Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. This one was a waste of time.
(And note, I have read and really loved her previous works. Another reason to be so frustrated here.)
If you want to be inspired and energized by the power of movement, get a dose of science, and a compelling personal story to boot, read Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. This one was a waste of time.
(And note, I have read and really loved her previous works. Another reason to be so frustrated here.)
March 23, 2020
Well written book on scientific aspects of exercise.How movement brings us hope,meaning and connection.
Recent studies have shown that a long run greatly increases levels of endocannabinoids in our brain. These are a class of chemicals, and cannabis mimics the effects of them on the brain. Endocannabinoids are known for lessening pain, boosting mood, and triggering additional feel-good chemicals and neurotransmitters such as dopamine and endorphins.
Endocannabinoids also help protect us against anxiety and depression. The weight-loss drug Rimonabant, for example, was designed to suppress appetite by blocking endocannabinoid receptors. Instead, it brought about dramatic increases in anxiety and depression in clinical trials, even leading to four suicides, and was permanently banned. Conversely, one recent study showed that just 30 minutes of exercise can make people immune to the severe anxiety induced by the drug CCK-4. In this study, the effect of exercise was equivalent to taking a sedative like Ativan.
And that’s not all: endocannabinoids also make us more social. In one experiment conducted by researchers at the Sapienza University of Rome, people who exercised for 30 minutes before playing a social game were much more generous and cooperative than people who didn’t. Initiatives like GoodGym in London harness the social energy generated by physical activity: they organize communal runs that send volunteers to do all sorts of social projects in their communities, such as visiting socially isolated elderly people.
Luckily for those of us who’d rather eat a broom than run a lap around the block, the runner’s high is not confined to running. It is proven to appear after all kinds of moderately exhausting physical activity that takes more than 20 minutes, whether that’s swimming, cycling, or speed-walking. Thus, the explosion of brain chemicals from prolonged exercise might be more accurately called a “persistence high.”Why would our brains make us feel so good about exhausting our bodies? The latest theory traces this phenomenon back to our earliest ancestors. It’s likely that the persistence high evolved to keep us hunting and gathering for longer periods of time, making us more likely to find food and survive. And the increased willingness to cooperate and share after physical exertion could also have had an evolutionary benefit: it made hunters more likely to share their spoils with the tribe.
......
“Green exercise” taps into the ancient human desire to connect with nature.
Now that you’ve learned about the numerous positive effects that movement has on our mental health, would you like to know what’s even better for your brain than exercise?
Exercising outside!
Nature has the power to fill us with wonder and awe, give us a sense of belonging, and make us more alert. Combined with physical activity, it has tremendous positive effects on our mental health. For example, within just five minutes of “green exercise," as it’s sometimes called, people report major positive changes in their mood and outlook.
If you’re wondering why, just remember that the human brain evolved over a long period of time, most of which humans spent outdoors running, walking, and foraging for food.
Indeed, brain scans show that our "default brain state" is different outdoors than it is indoors. Indoors, where Americans now spend an average 93 percent of their time, our default state shows activation in the brain areas responsible for memory, language, and social interaction, and slightly leans toward negativity – which is why we’re more likely to engage in rumination, self-criticism, or worry indoors.
But when we’re in nature, our default brain state more closely resembles the calm, disengaged state achieved by experienced meditators. We experience less anxiety, are more aware of our surroundings, and slip into a state researchers call soft fascination.
Psychologist Alexandra Rosati believes that these two different states of the human brain – indoors and outdoors, ruminating and mindful – correspond to two different types of cognition that were crucial to our ancestors’ survival. The ruminating state is the outcome of the evolution of social cognition, our ability to think about other people and cooperate within small groups. The mindful state derives from foraging cognition, our ability to be alert when hunting and gathering for food. Naturally, the latter is brought out best when we are outdoors.
People who feel connected to nature tend to spend more time in this foraging condition, and perhaps, as a consequence, experience greater life satisfaction, purpose, and happiness. They are also less likely to be depressed and anxious.
The Green Gym initiative in the UK makes use of the joy we derive from movement and nature by sending volunteers to do nature-based activities with a social focus, such as planting community gardens. Researchers at the University of Westminster showed that after eight weeks of the program, Green Gym volunteers showed a 20 percent increase in their cortisol awakening response – the hormonal boost that gets us up and going in the morning, and which is often suppressed in depressed people.
Source: blinkist.com
Recent studies have shown that a long run greatly increases levels of endocannabinoids in our brain. These are a class of chemicals, and cannabis mimics the effects of them on the brain. Endocannabinoids are known for lessening pain, boosting mood, and triggering additional feel-good chemicals and neurotransmitters such as dopamine and endorphins.
Endocannabinoids also help protect us against anxiety and depression. The weight-loss drug Rimonabant, for example, was designed to suppress appetite by blocking endocannabinoid receptors. Instead, it brought about dramatic increases in anxiety and depression in clinical trials, even leading to four suicides, and was permanently banned. Conversely, one recent study showed that just 30 minutes of exercise can make people immune to the severe anxiety induced by the drug CCK-4. In this study, the effect of exercise was equivalent to taking a sedative like Ativan.
And that’s not all: endocannabinoids also make us more social. In one experiment conducted by researchers at the Sapienza University of Rome, people who exercised for 30 minutes before playing a social game were much more generous and cooperative than people who didn’t. Initiatives like GoodGym in London harness the social energy generated by physical activity: they organize communal runs that send volunteers to do all sorts of social projects in their communities, such as visiting socially isolated elderly people.
Luckily for those of us who’d rather eat a broom than run a lap around the block, the runner’s high is not confined to running. It is proven to appear after all kinds of moderately exhausting physical activity that takes more than 20 minutes, whether that’s swimming, cycling, or speed-walking. Thus, the explosion of brain chemicals from prolonged exercise might be more accurately called a “persistence high.”Why would our brains make us feel so good about exhausting our bodies? The latest theory traces this phenomenon back to our earliest ancestors. It’s likely that the persistence high evolved to keep us hunting and gathering for longer periods of time, making us more likely to find food and survive. And the increased willingness to cooperate and share after physical exertion could also have had an evolutionary benefit: it made hunters more likely to share their spoils with the tribe.
......
“Green exercise” taps into the ancient human desire to connect with nature.
Now that you’ve learned about the numerous positive effects that movement has on our mental health, would you like to know what’s even better for your brain than exercise?
Exercising outside!
Nature has the power to fill us with wonder and awe, give us a sense of belonging, and make us more alert. Combined with physical activity, it has tremendous positive effects on our mental health. For example, within just five minutes of “green exercise," as it’s sometimes called, people report major positive changes in their mood and outlook.
If you’re wondering why, just remember that the human brain evolved over a long period of time, most of which humans spent outdoors running, walking, and foraging for food.
Indeed, brain scans show that our "default brain state" is different outdoors than it is indoors. Indoors, where Americans now spend an average 93 percent of their time, our default state shows activation in the brain areas responsible for memory, language, and social interaction, and slightly leans toward negativity – which is why we’re more likely to engage in rumination, self-criticism, or worry indoors.
But when we’re in nature, our default brain state more closely resembles the calm, disengaged state achieved by experienced meditators. We experience less anxiety, are more aware of our surroundings, and slip into a state researchers call soft fascination.
Psychologist Alexandra Rosati believes that these two different states of the human brain – indoors and outdoors, ruminating and mindful – correspond to two different types of cognition that were crucial to our ancestors’ survival. The ruminating state is the outcome of the evolution of social cognition, our ability to think about other people and cooperate within small groups. The mindful state derives from foraging cognition, our ability to be alert when hunting and gathering for food. Naturally, the latter is brought out best when we are outdoors.
People who feel connected to nature tend to spend more time in this foraging condition, and perhaps, as a consequence, experience greater life satisfaction, purpose, and happiness. They are also less likely to be depressed and anxious.
The Green Gym initiative in the UK makes use of the joy we derive from movement and nature by sending volunteers to do nature-based activities with a social focus, such as planting community gardens. Researchers at the University of Westminster showed that after eight weeks of the program, Green Gym volunteers showed a 20 percent increase in their cortisol awakening response – the hormonal boost that gets us up and going in the morning, and which is often suppressed in depressed people.
Source: blinkist.com
February 9, 2020
I listened to an interview with the author on a podcast, and find that I enjoyed listening to her talk about the book more than I enjoyed reading the book. The chapters felt a bit choppy. I didn't find a consistent thread that pulled me through each chapter. Rather, the chapters lurched from vignette to vignette.
August 19, 2025
дуже типовий нонфік.
мотивує перші три сторінки, далі - повторювання одного й того ж.
мотивує перші три сторінки, далі - повторювання одного й того ж.
January 31, 2020
There were a lot of really interesting facts about how movement and exercise impact our bodies and brains. I enjoyed learning about it, and it helps me understand more about how my body is working. The ultra marathoner endurance athletes seem absolutely nuts to me, but it was interesting to read their stories. This book is absolutely full of conversation starters, too, and I think it was a good use of my time.
May 26, 2024
Ох, не съм сигурна откъде да почна, но може би е добре да спомена първоначално, че ако човек се интересува дори малко от спорт и упражнения, може би книгата не е толкова лоша.
Аз лично не съм фен на каквито и да е вид спорт и упражнения, но осъзнавам позитивите, които движението носи на тялото и ума ти. Където и да съм чела, винаги най-основното е да намериш физическа активност, която всъщност ти допада да правиш. Авторката от самото начало заявява, че иска тази книга да е като мотиватор и вдъхновител да потърсиш движения, които ти носят удоволствие и наслаждение за душата и тялото ти.
Проблемите ми с тази книга обаче почнаха веднага. Предполагам, че ако книгата не беше написана и представена в този ултимативно захаросан, позитивен и розов начин с еднорози, бълващи дъги от дупетата си, може би щях една идея по-добре да приема написаното. Уви, захаросаността и абсурдната позитивност беше на макс, дори в моменти, където според мен беше неуместна и твърде много.
Отделно, надявах се, че като е книга за вдъхновение да те убеди да пробваш някакъв вид упражнения, че ще има много истории и примери на различни тонизиращи активности, които обикновени средностатистически хора, са намерили и успешно инкорпорирали към ежедневието си. Еми, не беше това. Фокусира се изцяло върху групови занимания, което колкото и социални животни да сме, понякога човек има нужда сам да прави някои неща. И отделно, единствените истории, които явно авторката е успяла да намери, са на хора, които или от малки спортните занимания им са страст или са хора, които са преминали през сериозни заболявания и/или психологически травми. Не точно примерите, които могат да те надъхат. Мен лично сериозно ме напрегна и стресира този елемент. Единствено, като говореше за градинарство и да бъдеш сред природата бях една идея по-ентусиазирана да чета, но говореше за груповите алтернативи на тези дейности и това уби и малкото позитив от споменаването на тези две активности.
Поне най-после разбрах защо светът е толкова обсебен от спорт и всякакви физически активности. На база информацията, която сподели от различни изследвания и проучвания, които са правени, явно спортът е вид легална дрога, която бива поощрявана до нива, където е изключително опасна за самия човек и обществото, защото парите да се погрижиш за тези психопати-атлети, идват от джоба на данъкоплатците.
И нещо, което също сериозно ме притесни, е неочакванот�� сравнение между болката и неудобството, което изпитват атлетите (вманиачените визирам) с болката и проблемите на хора с рак. Това адски ме ядоса, защото хората, болните от рак нямат избор, докато вманиачените атлети сами си причиняват всичко. Предполагам, че идеята ѝ беше да покаже на какво хората са способни ако се решат, един вид resilience, но както и да го представяш това, тези две неща на едно и също място, за мен е изключително неуместно.
Мда, само негативни емоции изпитах от тази книга. Не вярвам авторката да е очаквала, че някой може да види тази страна на написаното, но ето, че някой успя. Ако досега просто бях безразлична към спортове и физически активности, то в момента усещам, че почвам да ги намирам за опасни и изключително дразнещи.
Наистина съжалявам, че прочетох книгата, защото се опитвах да се надъхам и да намеря моето нещо, което ще ми позволи да бъда по-активна, но, уви, още повече загубих ентусиазъм.
Аз лично не съм фен на каквито и да е вид спорт и упражнения, но осъзнавам позитивите, които движението носи на тялото и ума ти. Където и да съм чела, винаги най-основното е да намериш физическа активност, която всъщност ти допада да правиш. Авторката от самото начало заявява, че иска тази книга да е като мотиватор и вдъхновител да потърсиш движения, които ти носят удоволствие и наслаждение за душата и тялото ти.
Проблемите ми с тази книга обаче почнаха веднага. Предполагам, че ако книгата не беше написана и представена в този ултимативно захаросан, позитивен и розов начин с еднорози, бълващи дъги от дупетата си, може би щях една идея по-добре да приема написаното. Уви, захаросаността и абсурдната позитивност беше на макс, дори в моменти, където според мен беше неуместна и твърде много.
Отделно, надявах се, че като е книга за вдъхновение да те убеди да пробваш някакъв вид упражнения, че ще има много истории и примери на различни тонизиращи активности, които обикновени средностатистически хора, са намерили и успешно инкорпорирали към ежедневието си. Еми, не беше това. Фокусира се изцяло върху групови занимания, което колкото и социални животни да сме, понякога човек има нужда сам да прави някои неща. И отделно, единствените истории, които явно авторката е успяла да намери, са на хора, които или от малки спортните занимания им са страст или са хора, които са преминали през сериозни заболявания и/или психологически травми. Не точно примерите, които могат да те надъхат. Мен лично сериозно ме напрегна и стресира този елемент. Единствено, като говореше за градинарство и да бъдеш сред природата бях една идея по-ентусиазирана да чета, но говореше за груповите алтернативи на тези дейности и това уби и малкото позитив от споменаването на тези две активности.
Поне най-после разбрах защо светът е толкова обсебен от спорт и всякакви физически активности. На база информацията, която сподели от различни изследвания и проучвания, които са правени, явно спортът е вид легална дрога, която бива поощрявана до нива, където е изключително опасна за самия човек и обществото, защото парите да се погрижиш за тези психопати-атлети, идват от джоба на данъкоплатците.
И нещо, което също сериозно ме притесни, е неочакванот�� сравнение между болката и неудобството, което изпитват атлетите (вманиачените визирам) с болката и проблемите на хора с рак. Това адски ме ядоса, защото хората, болните от рак нямат избор, докато вманиачените атлети сами си причиняват всичко. Предполагам, че идеята ѝ беше да покаже на какво хората са способни ако се решат, един вид resilience, но както и да го представяш това, тези две неща на едно и също място, за мен е изключително неуместно.
Мда, само негативни емоции изпитах от тази книга. Не вярвам авторката да е очаквала, че някой може да види тази страна на написаното, но ето, че някой успя. Ако досега просто бях безразлична към спортове и физически активности, то в момента усещам, че почвам да ги намирам за опасни и изключително дразнещи.
Наистина съжалявам, че прочетох книгата, защото се опитвах да се надъхам и да намеря моето нещо, което ще ми позволи да бъда по-активна, но, уви, още повече загубих ентусиазъм.
January 13, 2021
I'm not sure what I thought this book would be but it was on much more than exercise and movement. There's a lot in here about habits that modern humans have lost but which still help our bodies thrive (contact with dirt, witnessing greenery and nature, welcoming help from others, etc).
There's definitely a lot of anecdote in this book but there is discussion of the science behind many of the stories as well.
This book inspired me get back into regular movement habits, which is what I was hoping for.
There's definitely a lot of anecdote in this book but there is discussion of the science behind many of the stories as well.
This book inspired me get back into regular movement habits, which is what I was hoping for.
March 23, 2023
Ох і довго я її читала, але дочитала :)
Рекомендую усім, хто випав із життя в активному русі, або тим, хто ще не починав його, але хотів би.
Ця книжка розказує дуже багато про те, як рух впливає на наше життя, і нею неможливо не замотивуватися і не почати робити кроки.
До зустрічі у парку на пробіжці! 💛
Рекомендую усім, хто випав із життя в активному русі, або тим, хто ще не починав його, але хотів би.
Ця книжка розказує дуже багато про те, як рух впливає на наше життя, і нею неможливо не замотивуватися і не почати робити кроки.
До зустрічі у парку на пробіжці! 💛
April 13, 2022
Okay, so I haven't finished this book. I almost never (actually never?) finish nonfiction books quickly. I'm absorbing it slowly, and I like having time to reflect on each section. But I talk about this book all the time in person, and decided I should review it .
So I attended a one time dance class right before the pandemic started, and it was really fun. At the end of class, the instructor said she had a new book out. Universities are weird! My dance instructor was a psychologist.
This book is a psychologist's take on exercise & movement. The gist of it is that exercise makes us happier and more resilient, and group exercise is the most effective for social bonds. The book reviews a lot of different types of research, including sterile lab stuff (like listening to music increases performance on cardiac stress tests), and group surveys, and anecdotes. The book doesn't prescribe specific exercise; we meet dancers, weight lifters, tough mudders, walkers, whatever people like to do is what's going to create joy. It's also not about biology in itself - this book isn't going to tell you what's best for decreasing cholesterol, or what's best for arthritis, but we'll see people who have found joy after health issues.
I've found this book to be life affirming. Humans like exercise, we like to be active, and we like to do things with other people. A lot of us don't like specific types of exercise, but the body isn't too discriminating. The one thing I'd like to give you if you're not reading the book is that the average daily step count threshold to decrease anxiety and depression is 5649 (this is why my step count goal is 6k). But, I recommend this book to everyone.
So I attended a one time dance class right before the pandemic started, and it was really fun. At the end of class, the instructor said she had a new book out. Universities are weird! My dance instructor was a psychologist.
This book is a psychologist's take on exercise & movement. The gist of it is that exercise makes us happier and more resilient, and group exercise is the most effective for social bonds. The book reviews a lot of different types of research, including sterile lab stuff (like listening to music increases performance on cardiac stress tests), and group surveys, and anecdotes. The book doesn't prescribe specific exercise; we meet dancers, weight lifters, tough mudders, walkers, whatever people like to do is what's going to create joy. It's also not about biology in itself - this book isn't going to tell you what's best for decreasing cholesterol, or what's best for arthritis, but we'll see people who have found joy after health issues.
I've found this book to be life affirming. Humans like exercise, we like to be active, and we like to do things with other people. A lot of us don't like specific types of exercise, but the body isn't too discriminating. The one thing I'd like to give you if you're not reading the book is that the average daily step count threshold to decrease anxiety and depression is 5649 (this is why my step count goal is 6k). But, I recommend this book to everyone.
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April 16, 2020This isn't about the how, the how much, or the what of movement. It's the why behind it -- why it feels good, why we enjoy moving our bodies, why we bond with others through movement. And it made me miss my yoga community fiercely right now.
August 31, 2024
At a season of my life where my relationship to my body and to movement has felt so strained, this was a lovely reminder that movement is something that connects us to our own humanity. It was a nice framework that reminded me of how joy and connection to self is found through moving
December 27, 2020
Движение и спорт хорошо и важно, а еще 100 историй чтобы подтвердить это. В общем-то бесполезная книга
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February 16, 2020Kelly McGonigal makes the case that the benefits of physical movement go far beyond the physical. It helps us connect with others, build empathy, find community, feel joy, and fight our demons. I don't know how solid the scientific foundation is for this book, but as someone who lives with a constant background buzz of anxiety and self-criticism, exercise is one of the few things I've found that gets me out of my head and makes me feel happy, powerful, and strong. So I loved this book. I gravitate toward exercise that reinforces my uh, somewhat rigid perfectionism (i.e. barre) but listening to this book has inspired me to try some things that usually intimidate me and try to just let go and enjoy the movement.
November 7, 2021
My expectations were high because of what the back of the book promises: "...book that shows us how to fall in love with movement".
Big disappointment, because the book is actually just what the front of the book promises: "How exercise helps us find happiness, hope, connection, and courage". In other words, the book explains, how, for those people who experience for example the runner's high, that joy is born, or at least proves that it exists. And similar explanations for why moving itself, moving with others, moving in green environments, etc., why it makes people happy or creates positive feelings.
But the book does nothing to help those who don't get those positive feelings from movement, or have lost them for some reason. The writer is so in love with movement that she assumes that the same is true for everyone.
There are a lot of cute stories about people and exercise. They can be fun to read if you can overcome the disappointment from the fact that the book does not meet the back cover promise at all.
Big disappointment, because the book is actually just what the front of the book promises: "How exercise helps us find happiness, hope, connection, and courage". In other words, the book explains, how, for those people who experience for example the runner's high, that joy is born, or at least proves that it exists. And similar explanations for why moving itself, moving with others, moving in green environments, etc., why it makes people happy or creates positive feelings.
But the book does nothing to help those who don't get those positive feelings from movement, or have lost them for some reason. The writer is so in love with movement that she assumes that the same is true for everyone.
There are a lot of cute stories about people and exercise. They can be fun to read if you can overcome the disappointment from the fact that the book does not meet the back cover promise at all.
January 23, 2020
This book is a joyful exploration of the science behind why movement is important.
I listened to this on Audible and I'm so glad I did as I couldn't resist wriggling and tapping my feet.
It made my heart feel full and reminded me why I love to run. Highly recommend.
I listened to this on Audible and I'm so glad I did as I couldn't resist wriggling and tapping my feet.
It made my heart feel full and reminded me why I love to run. Highly recommend.
January 30, 2020
I love to exercise so this book reinforced everything I believe are the benefits of movement!!
January 31, 2020
Absolutely loved this book and have been recommending it left and right. Inspiring, encouraging and joyful love letter to movement and all of the ways it contributes to our health and happiness.
October 5, 2020
The best book to listen to while walking outdoors.
October 29, 2024
This book came recommended from the Hot and Bothered book. H&B had so much narrative stressing working out, muscle maintenance, healthy eating etc. The Joy of Movement was a great supplement to that. If you are already working out, you will be nodding your head to this. You will feel like high fiving yourself and chest bumping your running buddies. If you need some inspiration to get moving, this one is for you too! You’ll find something to motivate you. Solid 4 on audio.
January 13, 2022
ALLT við þessa bók fær mig til að öskra yess!
Höfundur er félagssálfræðingur sem hefur m.a. sérhæft sig í streitu og kvíða auk þess sem hún kennir dans. Hér fer hún yfir vísindin á bakvið gleðina við hreyfingu.
Hljóðbókarformið á þessari hentar mér ekki. Þarf hana á pappír til að yfirstrika og skrifa glósur uppúr henni.
Höfundur er félagssálfræðingur sem hefur m.a. sérhæft sig í streitu og kvíða auk þess sem hún kennir dans. Hér fer hún yfir vísindin á bakvið gleðina við hreyfingu.
Hljóðbókarformið á þessari hentar mér ekki. Þarf hana á pappír til að yfirstrika og skrifa glósur uppúr henni.
April 15, 2025
this book really spoke to me and affirmed how much i love my various hobbies
January 30, 2024
"Whether it’s by plunging into a pool of muddy water, learning how to hold a headstand, or lifting more weight than you ever thought possible, physical accomplishments can change how you think about yourself and what you are capable of. Do not underestimate how significant such a breakthrough can be." ~ Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D.
April 9, 2024
Who even am I reading non-fiction and giving it 5 stars and planning to buy a copy of this for my very own shelves??? Seriously, this book (which was an easy read) was almost meditative with how peaceful and hopeful I felt when reading it.
blinked
February 23, 2020(blinked) Using science to preach to the choir. Something I've known I've always felt, maybe this justifies going to that morning dance class and coming into work a bit late.
May 10, 2022
Listened to the audible version, strongly recommended. It contains many stories and references about relation of exercise to psychology and communities.
January 15, 2025
Audio. 2.5. Well I went into this one hoping it would inspire me to love exercise/movement and therefore improve on my sedentary lifestyle. Not so much. I still just want to be cozy on the couch with my books!
January 5, 2020
I absolutely love the work by Kelly and Jane McGonigal. I recently finished Kelly’s last book The Upside of Stress, and this book came out at the right time for my 2020 goal of losing 50 lbs.
Each chapter is backed by a ton of research about how movement can help with depression, feelings of loneliness as well as isolation and much more.
I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who needs some motivation
Each chapter is backed by a ton of research about how movement can help with depression, feelings of loneliness as well as isolation and much more.
I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who needs some motivation
October 21, 2020
audiobook read by author
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