How exercise and outdoor activities help with grief and loss, reducing depression and symptoms of an
They found that activities including yoga, running, walking and martial arts could be beneficial for the physical and mental health of those who have been bereaved, including those who had lost someone at a young age.
The types of exercise most likely to be of benefit were those connected to the outdoors such as walking, running, hiking, canoeing and cycling; activities based around relaxation and a focused mind, including yoga and qigong; mixed martial arts; and team sports such as football and rugby.
The review, published in Sports Medicine, is timely given the wide-scale global loss of life due to Covid-19. The study authors suggest physical activity may be beneficial for those who have experienced a loss and should be considered as a priority for future research.
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For 41-year-old Helen Hu Crispin in Hong Kong, cardio and yoga classes at the gym gave her focus when her husband, James, died from lung cancer three years ago.
Their daughter was just four at the time, and Hu Crispin wanted to be able to look after her and avoid “spiralling into depression”. She began attending classes every day, a few weeks after her husband died. They had been married for eight years.
“Going to the gym gave me a reason to leave the house. It gave me routine and helped me clear my mind,” the project administrator said.
“Exercise helps hugely with grief; however, not everyone can pluck up the courage to exercise after losing someone close … Courage also plays a huge part in the whole bereavement process,” Hu Crispin adds.
In recent years, celebrities have shared their experiences of using exercise to conquer grief and to heal. American Instagram star Amanda Kloots is one.
After she lost her husband, Canadian Broadway actor Nick Cordero, to Covid-19 in 2020, she channelled her energy into fitness videos, which helped her to release endorphins – hormones that increase feelings of pleasure and well-being, and reduce pain and discomfort – and help with the grieving process.
British television actress Sarah Parish – who has a role in the upcoming Netflix drama series Stay Close by Harlan Coben – said exercise helped safeguard her mental health following the death of her eight-month-old daughter from a congenital heart defect, and losing both her parents.
She said without exercise she could not have coped, and going for a walk or bike ride fills her with renewed energy.
It seems it is never too late to turn to exercise to overcome grief. The world’s oldest marathon runner, Fauja Singh, ran the marathon in Toronto, Canada, aged 100 in 2011.
He began running in his late eighties to cope with depression after his wife, daughter and son died in quick succession. The “Turbaned Tornado” said running gave him a renewed purpose and he continued until the age of 101 when he ran his last race, a 10k in Hong Kong.
Exercise, at any age, can be a great way to kick-start the survival instinct, said London-based therapist and trauma specialist Olivia James.
“Following a severe trauma like bereavement, we can be prone to low mood, rumination, depression and even [thoughts of] suicide. Activities that get you back into your body can help reactivate the survival instinct. Exercise can help to stimulate your nervous system, put your feet back on the ground, and help regulate moods and sleep patterns.”
Grief can often leave people feeling powerless and at the mercy of their emotions but exercise reminds them they can do something to feel a little better, explained James. “Ultimately exercise can be an appropriate way to channel and release feelings of anger and frustration.”
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Although exercise will not rid a person of grief, it can play an important role in helping people to adapt to loss. The release of endorphins through physical activity can help to boost mood, which is particularly important for those suffering from depression during the bereavement process.
A 2017 longitudinal study of more than 33,000 adults found that regular exercise of any intensity provided protection against future depression. Even just one hour a week can help.
Sleep problems are also common in bereavement, according to a 2010 study by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. And this is where exercise can also help: research published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine suggests physical activity can help improve sleep.Why you get better results from group exercise than going it alone
The impact of exercise can be life-affirming, according to James, helping to change our psychological state.
How to exercise safely following a loss of a loved one
Build up exercise gradually and, if motivation is difficult, start with a low-friction activity like a daily walk around the block rather than something that requires equipment or travelling
Consider joining a group activity which meets your personality type and social needs. Meeting new people can help boost your mood and give you greater motivation to take part.
Avoid extreme sports until you feel more in control of your mood. You might be tempted to channel your grief and anger in a way that could lead to accidents or injuries.
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