The Faces We Make

Our facial expressions give a very strong indication of our current mood. Very interesting recent research also indicates that our facial expressions directly affect our mood.

A Feel-Good Theory: A Smile Affects Mood

This applies to smiling, frowning, cringing, etc. If you scrunch your face up during a workout or exertion it actually makes you feel worse. If you try to just focus and keep your face relaxed, or better yet, smile it will make you feel better. Clearly genuine life situations and immediate environment have a much stronger impact on your mood, but even if we can induce a subtle mood shift by consciously smiling it is beneficial.

Additionally, our facial expressions affect the spirit and mood of those around us. It is known as emotional contagen. So now you have a responsibility to others in your classes to keep up a happy face.

Just like everything else we train, initially this will take a lot of conscious thought to start doing. You will have to be reminded. But as you practice deliberate facial expressions it will become more patterned and will require less deliberate effort. If we all do this then the general mood during our workouts will be lifted. So smile. You, and your friends will feel better.

Reminder about Katie’s meals. There is a sign up sheet in the gym on the back of the front door.