The Power of Physical Exercise for Addiction Recovery and Mental Health Wellness

At the beginning of recovery, it is especially good to keep the mind busy. There are plenty of physical activities here that will get client’s hearts and muscles pumping whilst their minds work hard to build resilience. Exercise empowers you to have control over your well-being during recovery, and will also guarantee you a great night’s sleep. 

Being active is not meant to be scary or complicated, but deciding to start is the hardest part. At Simcoe we believe there is something for everyone. Exercise helps strengthen our muscles and provides a mental outlet no matter the duration, ability, or personal motivation level. It creates an opportunity for long-term structure, where clients may turn to a daily hike, or a quick yoga session, instead of past cravings.  It also helps maintain a healthy weight, which is great for clients whose weight or appetite may have changed due to addiction. 

There are many benefits to exercising, especially during recovery, which include:

• Creating a reliable, consistent and enjoyable routine. Clients will fill up their spare time and give themselves something to look forward to.
• Feeling great. During exercise, our bodies release feel-good chemicals called endorphins, which suppress feelings of pain, making us feel optimistic and euphoric after exercising! 
• Balance and relaxation. Getting the heart pumping through exercise triggers the brain to release serotonin, a chemical that stabilizes our mood and acts as a destresser. 
• Better health. The increase in blood flow delivers nutrients and oxygen to muscles faster, which can help to increase energy levels. More energy means clients have the opportunity to  suppress cravings more easily and improve their well-being.

 All of these can help with emotional regulation, which promotes well being. These benefits can also ease withdrawal by soothing anxiety, stress, and depression, which sometimes lead to relapse during unsupervised recovery.

What we offer:

If cardio is a client’s idea of a good time, we encourage exercising in our gym or jogging around the facility. We carry plenty of free weights so clients can train as they please. For those who want to train precision and skill while building strength, you can head down to our basketball and tennis courts. 

We also offer a yoga classes for clients looking to strengthen the mind and body through lower-impact activities. We offer a range of ways to keep active, and we know that the benefits of physical activity in addiction recovery are often underestimated. 

Having an exercise routine can hold one accountable for their actions, which can be encouraging, and can also be planned around one’s cravings as a distraction. We believe that clients can find motivation through this.