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As the old cliché puts it — a healthy body equals a healthy mind. Everybody knows that exercise is good for both your physical and emotional wellbeing. It’s not just an old saying — exercise changes the structure and function of the brain, and being active increases brain volume. Exercise also promotes adult neurogenesis — the creation of new brain. So getting your daily exercise is important. The real question is: are some activities better than others?

Surprisingly enough, new research suggests that may be the case. It’s early days still — especially as the research was done using rats — but the results are fascinating. This is the first time scientists have compared the neurological effects of different kinds of exercise — and you might be pleased to hear that you don’t need the toughest exercises to get the best results.

In studies with animals, running has been found to double or even triple the number of new neurons in the animals’ hippocampus — a key area for learning and memory. Scientists believe that exercise has similar effects on people. [Read more…] about The Neuroscience of Exercise

Your body language can make an argument easier or harder to resolve. If you missed it, check out our blog post on body language can make arguments worse.

It ain’t what you say it’s the way that you say it! Although choosing your words carefully is always a good idea — especially if you are arguing with your partner — experts believe that in face-to-face interactions between 50 and 80 percent of communication is non-verbal. Yup! Strangely enough the words that we use may be the least important part of any message; it’s our intonation and our body language that really tells others what we think and feel. For the most part these signals are processed subconsciously — we’re rarely aware that we’re reacting to each other’s body language and, unless we’re making a special effort, we don’t know what signals our body is sending out. [Read more…] about Using body language to diffuse an argument

Body language is an important part of how we communicate. Here we look at how body language can flame conflict. Look out for our next blog post where we’ll explain how body language can be used to diffuse an argument.

Every couple argues. Ding, ding, ding! That’s an astounding revelation! Of course you know that. Even Mr Wonderful and Ms Right are going to experience a difference of opinion every now and again. That’s no big deal. In fact, it is healthy. The only way a couple would never argue is if one person is a complete pushover or is too afraid to state how he or she feels. That person may look calm on the surface but chances are they are a seething mass of resentment underneath — and that’s not a recipe for a happy life.

So you may not be able to avoid conflict, but you can ensure that arguments don’t get out of hand. Arguments may be inevitable, but you’ll both be happier if they are short-lived and quickly resolved. One way to do that is by paying attention to your body language. [Read more…] about Is your body language making your arguments worse?

What exactly is body image? Sarah Grogan, author of Body Image: Understanding Body Dissatisfaction in Men, Women and Children defines body image as “‘a person’s perceptions, thoughts and feelings about his or her body” and argues from as young as eight, most Western girls experience some dissatisfaction with their bodies. It’s not just young girls and women who feel this way. Studies have found that from the age of eight years old, boys are concerned about their body shape as well.

[Read more…] about Mirror, mirror, on the wall…

So you’ve married the love of your life and nothing is gonna tear you apart. Not like your brother James and his ex Ashley; and definitely not like your cousin Trisha whose divorce was a long, loud, painful process. Good for you! But just one question — are you sure?

Everybody knows there are certain behaviours almost guaranteed to break up a marriage. Infidelity is one; domestic violence is another. You may be sure you would ever do these — but what about the everyday bad behaviours that destroy a happy relationship? [Read more…] about Four marriage busters: Are you guilty of any of these?

Here’s a scenario: you are out with your partner, your partner’s brother and his wife. We’ll call them William and Lucy. Your partner is very fond of brother William, and William is very much in love with his wife Lucy. Unfortunately you find Lucy hard to take. At dinner she complains bitterly about her job, the waiter, the food, the weather, even the television schedule. Nobody else seems to mind, but Lucy is driving you nuts. What do you do:

1. Grin and bear it
2. Tell Lucy to shut up
3. Have a good old moan yourself on the way home

Whatever you do, there is going to be someone suffering. If you opt for number one, it’ll be you. After all you’ll have to listen to Lucy! If you tell her to shut up, Lucy, William and probably your partner will be angry with you. The third choice is a little trickier. It is okay to let off steam, but if your partner thinks you are criticising William, well then, you might get an earful about that. [Read more…] about How accepting are you?

Oh oh! At first glance the obvious answer is no. You’ve met the love of your life, settled down, got married and have committed yourself to a life of monogamy… so why do you find yourself constantly thinking about Eamon from accounts, or Jennifer from the gym?

A crush or an infatuation is an absorbing passion for someone. It means you think about him or her all the time and imagine what it would be like if you were together. Because it is all in your head, this alternate life is blissful. But that’s only because you never get to find out that Eamon is useless at helping out around the house, leaves his dirty socks everywhere and is way too fond of World of Warcraft; or that Jennifer snores really loudly, takes hours to get ready, and talks during films. [Read more…] about Crushed! Is it ever okay to be infatuated with someone other than your partner?