Do you ever wonder why you feel so incredibly relieved after a workout session? Sure, there’s the feeling of being tired and a little out of breath, but there’s also that feeling of having a heavy burden lifted off your shoulders, a feeling of content and euphoria. A natural high.

When you workout endorphins, which are compounds that the pituitary gland and hypothalamus produce (yah I get fancy sometimes), are released in moments of exercise and excitable moments. They’re also released during moments of injury and pain. They’re your body’s natural drug. This naturally high level of euphoria can sometimes last 11 to 12 hours.

The physical activity of exercise not only promotes good health, better body tone, and a prolonged life but it also relieves the stress inside your body by releasing endorphins. Sometimes you might say to yourself “I have to get a workout in!” Even though you might not feel up to it. Is it because your addicted to exercise? Possibly, but the real reason is because you need to get that feeling of relief and you know that in the end you’ll feel better if you get a good workout session in. This is all due to endorphins and the effect they have on your body.

Many runners state a typical “high” feeling, but this is not just limited to the activity of running. This release of endorphins has this effect on your body with any type of physical activity. The feelings of happiness, elation, giddiness, and joy that endorphin release gives you can be felt with vigorous exercise, such as swimming, walking, skiing, hockey, basketball, tennis and so on. This feeling somewhat depicts what a heroin or cocaine addict might feel. However, this feeling can be yours for the simple price of exercising your body.

Your body is such an amazing machine that exercise not only releases these endorphins, but also decreases cortisol, which is responsible for stress, and increases dopamine, adrenaline, and serotonin. This chemical change in your body leads to only one thing and that is a calmer, more peaceful feeling in your body and a boost to your mood. This mood elevating combination comes at the mere price of doing what you should be doing anyway to keep your body’s fit and strong – exercise.

You’re able to feel these great effects of endorphin induced glee with a simple 10 to 15 minutes of exercise. However, a program where you’re exercising 30 minutes at least three to four times a week, preferably even every day is ideal (light exercise). Exercise will ease muscle pain, give you these feel good effects, lift your spirits and give you more energy. So why not make a pledge to exercise more often for a renewed and healthier you. Get up off the couch, put your running shoes on and lets get high together!