Physical exercise is usually associated with the search for a more active and healthy life, whether to improve mobility and autonomy in everyday life, or for objectives linked to body change, such as weight loss or hypertrophy.

But the benefits of regular practice go beyond physical issues. Increasingly, exercise is also gaining prominence for its positive impacts on brain function, contributing to focus, creativity, memory and mental clarity.

Physical exercise and focus: what is the relationship?

During physical activity, the body goes through a series of physiological responses that directly impact the functioning of the brain. According to Bodytech’s Acqua and Kids teacher, Rafaela Cruz Russo, “during exercise, there is an increase in cerebral blood flow, improving the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the brain and favoring its functioning.”

This quick response is known as acute adaptation, when the body reacts positively immediately after physical activity. Therefore, many people report more mental clarity, agile reasoning and disposition after training.

Furthermore, exercise helps reduce factors that tend to impair concentration, such as stress, anxiety and mental fatigue.

How does physical activity influence creativity?

Creativity is also linked to cognitive functioning and the brain’s ability to create connections. When the body is in movement, different brain areas are stimulated, favoring this process.

Furthermore, regular exercise contributes to neuroplasticity, the mechanism responsible for creating and strengthening these connections. As a consequence, the brain starts to deal better with stimuli, which can encourage more creative thoughts and greater mental flexibility.

Another important point is that exercise also works as a break from excessive routine stimuli. In activities such as walking, running and dancing, for example, the brain alternates states of attention and relaxation, facilitating insights and contributing to problem solving.

Which exercises help most with mental clarity?

Aerobic exercises appear among those most associated with cognitive benefits, as they help to increase cerebral oxygenation and stimulate important mechanisms for brain function. One of the main ones is the production of BDNF, a protein linked to learning and memory. Rafaela Cruz states that “activities such as running, dancing, indoor cycle, walking, swimming and 20 minute hydroworkout increase brain oxygenation, stimulate neuroplasticity and promote the release of BDNF”.

Strength exercises also have important impacts. Training such as weight training and localized gymnastics help to strengthen brain connections related to memory, attention and executive functions.

Therefore, combining cardiovascular and resistance exercises can be an interesting strategy to stimulate both the body and the mind.

How regular exercise impacts the body and mind

The feeling of well-being after training is also directly related to brain activity. During and after exercise, the body releases neurotransmitters such as endorphins, dopamine and serotonin, substances associated with feelings of pleasure, motivation and relaxation.

According to Rafaela, the benefits tend to be even more noticeable when the practice takes place in a pleasurable way, because “when physical activity is performed in a pleasurable way, especially in modalities with which the person identifies, the benefits tend to be even more noticeable and lasting.”

Over time, constant practice promotes positive adaptations in the brain, helping to preserve essential cognitive functions. Physically active people also have a lower risk of developing mental disorders and cognitive decline throughout their lives. And among the benefits associated with consistency in exercise are:

• Reduction of stress and anxiety;
• Improved memory and attention;
• Faster mental processing;
• Decreased mental fatigue;
• Protection against cognitive losses related to aging.

Still according to the professor, regularity can contribute to the formation of the so-called cognitive reserve, “a brain capacity to create strategies and connections that help preserve mental functioning throughout life.”

In this context, maintaining an active routine goes beyond the search for physical conditioning or aesthetic changes. Over time, exercise also consolidates itself as an important ally of cognitive performance, contributing to more balance in everyday life.