Turn that Frown Upside Down…Your Heart Will Thank You!

Have you ever heard someone say “it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile” in order to

coax someone who’s unhappy into lightening their bad mood? Well, does it really matter if it’s true or not? What is true is that researchers are recognizing and studying a possible link between positive emotions and good heart health.  

Toxic stress – significant, prolonged stress and anxiety – can physiologically alter the body’s systems over time, causing illnesses like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. But, according to research studies at Harvard’s School of Public Health, negative emotions aren’t the only ones that play a role in heart health. Laura Kubzansky, professor of social and behavioral sciences at Harvard School of Public Health, suggests that having a positive, happy outlook can actually reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.   

In a 2007 study that followed more than 6,000 men and women aged 25 to 74 for 20 years, Kubzansky found a distinct and measureable difference in people with “emotional vitality—a sense of enthusiasm, of hopefulness, of engagement in life, and the ability to face life’s stresses with

emotional balance—appears to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.”

No, just smiling isn’t enough to ensure a happy heart, but it’s part of the bigger equation of well-being. Kubzansky says people who have a positive outlook are more likely to participate in healthy behaviors “because they perceive them as helpful in achieving their goals.”  

So, in addition to exercising, eating healthy, and getting enough ZZZZZZ’s, add smiling and optimistic thoughts to your daily regimen for a happy heart.  

Did you know… that students of yoga frequently report a sense of deep relaxation, calm and happiness at the end of a yoga session? Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have found that yoga may be superior to other forms of exercise in its positive effect on mood and anxiety. 

Wanna get rid of the toxic stress in your life and give your heart a reason to smile? Movement Works has a daily yoga schedule that fits everyone’s level of fitness. So let us put a smile on your face, and your heart!