Imagine being pleasantly euphoric with a lower stress level and having less aches and pains, lower blood pressure, and sounder sleep. You can get there without a pill.
Endorphins, endogenous opiates, produce a natural high. They are produced by the central nervous system and the pituitary gland as a response to stimuli such as pain, fear, or stress. Endorphins alleviate the discomfort associated with the exertion of exercise, and can remain elevated for hours and even into the next day.
For exercise to stimulate the release of endorphins the exercise has to be sufficiently demanding. A walk in the park won’t cut it. Exercise with lots of rest between sets might produce a few endorphins. A high intensity training (HIT) workout will produce a lot. A properly designed HIT workout is a series of strength training exercises taken to deep fatigue with very little rest and a lot of attention to safety.
At Austin Strength Trainers and New Orleans Strength trainers we conduct HIT workouts on MedX equipment. The equipment’s special medical rehab features make it safer and more accommodating to those with limiting conditions. The trainers insure proper form and breathing, and upon completion of an exercise, they make sure you are immediately on to the next one.
People of any age and any level of fitness can do this. You build up to it slowly, doing at little more than you are used to handling each workout. Over time you’ll be at a higher difficulty level and have that endorphin rush.