Most people learn to ride a bike at a young age and never forget how to do it, as the saying goes. So many people take part in cycling as its not that hard once you have learned and you can go at whatever pace you like. What you may not know however is that cycling is one of the best sports around for helping to combat depression and is actually prescribed by doctors in many countries. But why is it considered to be such a healing sport?
Outdoors. To start with, cycling is more often than not an outdoor activity. Research has proved that people recover much better when they are in open spaces and are meeting other people in the outside world. Further more, you breathe in fresh air and see some wonderful surroundings on bike rides, which all helps to perk you up a bit. Bikes are also a great deal easier to transport than other outdoor equipment like surfboards or used kayaks.
Feeling better on the outside. Depression can be linked to many things, but it is often a difficult hole to get out of. People tend to either comfort eat or neglect their appearance when suffering from depression and this usually makes things worse. Cycling in particular is one of the best sports to get your cardiovascular system working and reduce your fat percentage. Often people who start to feel better about their appearance, also start to feel better inside as well as their confidence grows.
Endophines. Cycling is one of those exercises that when performed, causes the brain to release endorphins into the blood stream, which are hormone that makes you feel happy. These little endorphins work to increase the amount of energy the body has, reduce feelings of anxiety and worry, and generally make you feel good. So it is easy to see why tests show exercise to be among the most effective treatment methods for depression. So if you’re feeling a bit low, get some second hand bikes and go for a ride with a friend or partner
