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Woman in red sweater and black pants walks down a tree-lined road considering the health benefits of meditation.

The Health Benefits of Meditation & Exercise

For years we’ve known that exercise is good for the body. The benefits of exercise on our health are endless. It’s good for your heart, your hormones, and can help prevent you from developing a slew of diseases down the road. But did you know that there are health benefits in meditation?

Abide Active is just that—workouts for your mind, body, and soul. Switch up your fitness routine this week and take your meditations on the move. Download Abide now to get started.

Exercise and Mental Health

At Abide, we’re passionate about total-body wellness. Our meditations are designed to help you stress less and sleep better while growing closer in your walk with God. The health benefits of combining peaceful meditation with physical exercise cannot be over emphasized.

With our active series, we’ve combined exercise with meditation to provide the most health benefits to your mind, body, and soul, including:

  • Improved Mood
  • More Energy
  • Better Sleep
  • Better Memory

Improved Mood

Even just a short walk around the block can make you feel better. Exercise can change the brain’s chemistry, which can help regulate stress and reduce anxiety or depression. It can also produce endorphins, or happy hormones, which make you feel good.

Think about how you feel when you first get to the gym. Maybe groggy, sluggish, and unmotivated? After a workout though, even if it was a challenging one, you probably feel energized and happier than when you walked in.

More Energy

While it may seem counter-intuitive, exercise can make you less tired. Seriously. Before you head out for that afternoon caffeine kick, try taking a walk. Multiple studies have found that regular exercise can significantly improve energy levels and reduce chronic fatigue.

Better Sleep

If you struggle to get a good night’s sleep, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that between 30% and 50% of all adults struggle with insomnia. While we certainly encourage adding nightly meditations to your bedtime routine, exercise is another great way to support your sleep health. Exercise can help you fall asleep faster, sleep more deeply, and feel more energized the next day.

Better Memory and Brain Health

If you’re worried about your memory, start moving! Exercising regularly can help sharpen your mind as you age. When you work out, your body releases chemicals that help your brain function better.

Get Active with Abide

If you’re ready to soak in all of these benefits, start moving with Abide’s active meditation series. Use this link to download Abide and receive 25% off a premium subscription, which will give you access to all these meditations. We’re sharing a sample of two of our favorites below.

Diving to Ascend

Meditate with us on what it means to be immersed in Jesus and delivered from our trials and temptations. Imagine, you’re diving into a pool, as you listen to this mental workout based on 1 Peter 3:21. Just as you dive into a pool, we want to dive into Jesus’ healing waters during tough times. While baptism doesn’t bring us salvation, water does have healing and cleansing power. Invite Christ to wash you anew today, in his healing water of mercy and grace.

Stretch Into Your Day

Just as athletes stretch to improve performance, God stretches us to get the most out of our faith. He wants us to be flexible, moldable in his hands. While he may bend you, he will never break you. God is simply stretching you to give you the strength you need to grow. Meditate on this simple truth based on Hebrews 11:6 today with us, and join us for a few stretching and breathing exercises.

To find more meditations for total mind and body wellness, download Abide now and get instant access to our library of 1500+ meditations and more than 300 sleep stories designed to help you be well and stress less while strengthening your relationship with God.