Physical activity, sports, and a healthy lifestyle support mental health from a very young age.

Mental healthWhat is meant by mental health? According to the World Healt... More is a top priority mission for today’s fast-paced society. Taking care of one’s physical and mental well-being is often perceived as secondary compared to daily commitments. Yet, healthy daily habits based on physical activity and mindful movement practices can bring about positive changes in individual and community well-being, combating the silent epidemic of psychological disorders, loneliness, and isolation.

Youth, mental health, and the risk of isolation

Globally, one in seven adolescents, aged 10 to 19, suffers from a psychological disorder. The increasing prevalence of mental illnesses has prompted Europe to provide support that was previously limited for younger populations. To recognize and acknowledge a disorder, especially at a young age, it is necessary to learn to understand, identify, and anticipate it. Many studies have confirmed the effectiveness of educational support based on the development of emotional intelligenceThe first definition of Emotional Intelligence as such was p... More and personal empowerment.

Guidance from experts who foster the development of emotional skills helps children increase awareness, inclusion, and relational abilities: fundamental tools to prevent loneliness, isolation, and marginalization, and to encourage positive social interaction while avoiding critical situations.

Physical activity and the mind: a duo that educates for well-being

Among the activities recommended to develop a healthy lifestyle and a positive attitude toward oneself and others, physical activity has proven to be the winning tool to harmoniously educate both mind and body. Movement is essential for children, as adolescenceWhat is meant by adolescence? Adolescence is understood as t... More is a particularly risky age for the development of mood disorders.

The Motor Square Training

The Motor Square Training (QMT), for example, is a movement practice created by Patrizio Paoletti and studied at the RINED Research Institute, which simultaneously engages body and mind, offering a harmonious and integrated workout, structured in a defined space and guided by verbal instructions. Fondazione Patrizio Paoletti has demonstrated that combining movement with cognitive effort in QMT over 8 consecutive weeks leads to significant improvements in certain aspects of psychological well-being, including the ability to form positive relationships with others and the drive to give meaning to our lives. These results perfectly align with the framework of Third Millennium PedagogyTo understand what pedagogy is, let’s provide a definition... More, a holistic approach that promotes the joint education of mind and body.

The effect of sport on the mind

Global healthWhat is the definition of health proposed by the WHO in 1948... More care, which includes physical and mental health, is also a priority due to the increase in disorders and isolation following the COVID-19 pandemic. European institutions now encourage programs that improve self-awarenessIl termine autoconsapevolezza si riferisce primariamente all... More, stressWhat is stress? From a clinical perspective, stress is a phy... More management, and psychological well-being from a young age.

Even before providing self-management stress tips and healthy lifestyle practices, it is recommended to engage in physical activity as prevention. Hundreds of studies have shown that 30 minutes of movement per day can reduce the risk of developing anxietyAnxiety is an emotional response characterized by feelings o... More-related problems by 25%.

The benefits of physical activity are immediate:

• release of hormones that improve mood,
• reduction of muscular tension,
• relief from daily cognitive pressures,
• greater mental clarity and ability to reorganize thoughts.

If physical activity is done in groups and outdoors, it also becomes an antidote to loneliness and isolation, and can improve emotional well-being through social interaction and endorphin release.

Playing sports also keeps the mind engaged. Motor exercises help the body release nervous and muscular tension caused by stress, freeing mental space and cognitive resources to reorganize thoughts.

Distraction becomes an important ally in clearing the mind of anxiety-inducing worries and finding new perspectives on daily situations.

Fondazione Patrizio Paoletti promotes physical activity as an integral part of overall health, also participating in the Stracittadina of Run Rome The Marathon, with a commitment to promoting health, prevention, and inclusion through movement, in collaboration with the dance and sports communities.