Running More Able to Increase Mood Compared to Meditation

News24xx.com -  Running can turn out to be an alternative to get a relaxed mood in the midst of busy days.

In addition to relieving stress, research has found that running exercise produces more benefits for the brain than meditation or yoga.

According to recent research running as far as 1.5 to 3 kilometers can increase focus, concentration, and overall mood rather than meditation.

Based on reports from the Runner's World page, this research has been published in the journal Acta Psychologica.

The research was conducted by researchers from France with the research subject of 101 University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne students. In the study, researchers conducted two cognitive tests, namely the Vigor-Activity (VA) subscale test which assessed perceived energy levels and the Trail Making Test (TMT), which was divided into two parts and assessed work skills. 

The students were then divided into two groups, namely the first group that ran for 15 minutes with a distance of 2.5 kilometers. Meanwhile, another group was in class for a 15-minute relaxation session, which combined exercises such as direction for positive thinking, progressive muscle relaxation, and deep breathing. After that, students take the same two cognitive tests again. 

As a result, participants who ran scored an average of two points higher on the VA subscale and averaged eight seconds faster on the TMT test. However, those who underwent relaxation averaged six points lower on the VA subscale and averaged 10 milliseconds slower in the first TMT test. 

Those who underwent relaxation were also one tenth of a second slower in the second part of the TMT test.