My thoughts on sports as therapy..
Hi all!
I am a pretty new listener here in the 7 Cups community, and I wanted to see if there were any other athletes or fitness freaks here that have seen the advantages of sports/fitness as a therapy resource. I'd love to hear your thoughts below!
Anyways, hockey is my passion, and has gotten me out of every dark place I have ever been in. It's funny, I never actually knew that until my freshman year in university. I stopped play Junior A hockey (that's like semi-pro hockey for people 16-21 here in Canada for my foreign friends) when I moved to university, and I entered some of my darkest months. It wasn't until intramurals started up in the winter, and as slow as the hockey may have been compared to where I played, my happiness was moving up and up so quickly that I couldn't even understand why! Ever since I had this realization of hockey as therapy those years ago, I haven't gone a month without some form of organized hockey!
Anyways, that's my quick spiel on sports as therapy. How have any of you used sports or fitness as therapy?
@Travis29
First of all thank you for your work as a listener :)
Now about what you asked: At the moment I don't have an actual sport, I just ocasionally job and go in long walks. But I found that yes! Any physical activity helps ALOT. You feel like new, even if your body hurts. The anxiety is easier to manage, same as depression. I always thought people lied to me about exercise, simply for me to get out. But it is true, sports helps. Also when I was younger I also did classic ballet and volleyball and I can say this also works for children. Specially kids who struggle with anxiety.
And it's lovely to see how is also helping you. Good job :) Keep up with the great work. I hope sports keeps helping you
@Travis29 cool. I am a mother of a athlete so I deffinetly understand the benefits of physical activity and therapy in sports seeing how it gives my daughter confidence. She wants to pick up hockey and learn how to play. I was quite surrised because she was all about soccer for many years, but I support her goals none the less.