Here at the PilatesBarre, our TreadBarre classes combine strength-training with cardio to create the perfect high intensity interval training workout. With constant focus on engaging your core, lengthening your muscles, and varying your heart rate, you will feel better than ever after your class. While all the health benefits of TreadBarre may seem obvious, few know that aerobic exercise, such as running, alters your brain to improve memory and critical thinking skills.
What is the hippocampus?
According to a study conducted by the University of British Columbia, exercising regularly and elevating your heart rate increases the size of your hippocampus. The hippocampus is the part of the brain that is involved in verbal memory and learning, so as it increases in size, your cognitive skills improve. Additionally, the brain benefits of aerobic exercise are both direct and indirect.
Direct Brain Benefits of Aerobic Exercise
The direct benefits of exercise come from its ability “to reduce inflammation and stimulate the release of growth factors,” (Harvard Health). These growth factors affect the health of brain cells and enable new brain cells to survive and flourish.
Indirect Brain Benefits of Aerobic Exercise
Indirectly, exercise improves sleep while alleviating stress and anxiety. Problems with sleep and anxiety are often the culprits of cognitive impairment.
Cardio strengthens the brain?
Strengthening your brain is critical in today’s day and age, as according to Harvard medical school, “one new case of dementia is detected every four seconds globally.” On top of this, more than “115 million people will have dementia by the year 2050.” An easy way to improve your chances of not joining this statistic is to strengthen your brain health by doing cardio-based workouts. Overall, cardio-specific exercise, such as a TreadBarre class, will not only help your body become stronger and healthier, but it will help your brain as well. If you are looking to be toned and at the top of your game mentally, a TreadBarre class is the perfect fit for you!