Sustainable by conviction
THINK IN GREEN.
Sports psychologist and mental coach Dr Monika Niederstätter has also trained as a holistic relaxation coach. Formerly a world-class athlete, she was the top Italian 400-metre hurdler for many years – she even twice participated in the Olympics. Today, her seminars tell us just what exercise means to her – and take us outside, into nature’s fresh greenery.
“The stress of everyday life, when everything is so fast and hectic and your thoughts won't let you go – not even when you finally treat yourself to a break and sink into your favourite armchair”: Monika knows exactly what she is talking about when she describes chronic stress as extremely damaging and harmful to our health, both physical and mental.
She also knows that one of the most effective remedies is in fact quite simple: exercise.
Regular exercise has been proven to improve our physical well-being, reduce stress levels and minimise the release of the stress hormone cortisol. And there is no better place to do this than in the great outdoors. Forests, mountains, meadows – the fresh air is good for you, while the panoramic views are highly relaxing. Your senses are sharpened, your pulse slows and your blood pressure drops.
The colour green is particularly helpful on the mental level; it has a calming, relaxing, harmonising and natural effect. Green stands for hope, for happiness and contentment, for regeneration and freshness, for life in general and for new beginnings – all of which come in handy in our stressful everyday lives! So put on your walking, running or cycling shoes and head out into the lush green world. Of course, you can also wander barefoot through the grassy meadows and emerald-green forests.
/am
Exercise: breathe in deeply while you are out and about, then exhale slowly. Be especially mindful of your feet: notice how they contact the ground with each step. Sense how they feel, how they carry you – then consider your body further upwards: your legs, your arms, your face.
“The stress of everyday life, when everything is so fast and hectic and your thoughts won't let you go – not even when you finally treat yourself to a break and sink into your favourite armchair”: Monika knows exactly what she is talking about when she describes chronic stress as extremely damaging and harmful to our health, both physical and mental.
She also knows that one of the most effective remedies is in fact quite simple: exercise.
Regular exercise has been proven to improve our physical well-being, reduce stress levels and minimise the release of the stress hormone cortisol. And there is no better place to do this than in the great outdoors. Forests, mountains, meadows – the fresh air is good for you, while the panoramic views are highly relaxing. Your senses are sharpened, your pulse slows and your blood pressure drops.
The colour green is particularly helpful on the mental level; it has a calming, relaxing, harmonising and natural effect. Green stands for hope, for happiness and contentment, for regeneration and freshness, for life in general and for new beginnings – all of which come in handy in our stressful everyday lives! So put on your walking, running or cycling shoes and head out into the lush green world. Of course, you can also wander barefoot through the grassy meadows and emerald-green forests.
/am
Exercise: breathe in deeply while you are out and about, then exhale slowly. Be especially mindful of your feet: notice how they contact the ground with each step. Sense how they feel, how they carry you – then consider your body further upwards: your legs, your arms, your face.
