Depression is a disorder of the moods that commonly involves feelings of sadness. Clinical depression, also known as major depression, is a severe type of depression. It is known to affect people from all walks of life and cuts across all the age brackets. Apart from prescribed medication from a qualified mental health professional, studies show that some exercises can help you cope with depression symptoms:

1. Running
Running is one of the best cardiovascular exercises that are useful in helping individuals with depression. Running helps in the stimulation of the brain chemicals once the runners hit the runners high. This phase leads to the release of endorphins in the brain as a natural response to physical activity. The endorphins, once released, help in the production of a sense of joy and well-being and help decrease pain. You must sustain this activity for about 20 to 30 minutes for productive and successful results.

2. Strength training
According to research, those participants who were suffering from depression and engaged in strength training benefited a lot. Strength training helps in the art of mastery and control, which allows the individual to maintain focus and concentration. The exercise, which involves lifting weights, helped the participants to experience reduced levels of loss of interest, feelings of having no worth, and symptoms that were depressive-like moods that are low.

3. Yoga and meditation
There are various types of yoga that you can learn from your home’s comfort. Yoga and meditation among those individuals that have depression help them in increasing the levels of positivity and reduced physical exhaustion. These two exercises have the effect of modulating the stress response levels of the body, thereby reducing any arousal that may be physiological.

They help in easing respiration, lowering the blood pressure, and effectively reducing the heart rate of an individual. The exercises help in the reduction of the symptoms of anxiety and depression.

4. Tai chi
Tai Chi is a martial art skill that has its origin in China. It is an exercise that is graceful and has a lot of movements performed in a slow yet focused manner. Tai Chi helps in building strength as well as managing and relieving pain, improving balance, an enhanced immune system, and quality sleep. This exercise helps in breaking free from depression and any other disorders that may be depressive.

5. Walking
Walking is regarded as a moderate-intensity exercise and is useful in the reduction of stress and anxiety. It leads to fewer depressive symptoms among individuals who are depressed. Since it is an aerobic exercise, it allows you to spend off extra energy resulting in improved mental rest and the reduction of stress and depressive disorders.

There are several forms in which depression may occur. These include:

• Major depression
• Psychotic depression
• Major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern
• Postpartum depression
• Bipolar disorder

Some of the causes of depression and trigger factors may combine to bring out various symptoms of clinical depression. The likely factors that play a role include:

• Environmental factors
• Changes in the neurotransmitter levels in the brain
• Genetic factors
• Social as well as psychological factors
• Conditions like bipolar disorder

While any person can get depression, there are risk factors that enhance the likelihood of someone suffering from depression. Some of the risk factors include:

• Lacking successful strategies to cope with issues
• Cases of acute stress
• Prescription drugs like interferon
• Injuries to the head