Move Your Body, Train Your Mind
For years, the wellness world has been divided into two camps: the runners and gym-goers on one side, the meditators and therapists on the other. A sweeping new study published in Nature Human Behaviour suggests it's time to stop choosing and start combining.
The research, led by Dr. Lowri Wilkie and colleagues at Swansea University, is the most comprehensive comparison of wellbeing interventions ever conducted. By analyzing 183 randomized controlled trials involving over 22,800 adults, the team didn't just ask "does this work?" - they asked, "what works best, and how does it compare to everything else?"
The answer is striking: combined exercise-psychological interventions outperformed every other approach studied.
What Does "Combined" Actually Look Like?
The research points to examples like awe walks (taking a mindful walk with an intention to notice beauty and wonder) and meditation combined with walking as prototypes of what these interventions look like in practice. It's not just going for a run and then doing therapy on separate days; it's about integrating psychological intention into physical activity, or using movement as a vehicle for psychological change.
Other real-world examples of this blended approach include:
Dance movement therapy, where expressive movement becomes the medium for psychological work
Surf therapy, which combines physical exertion with group processing and emotional skill-building
Walking-based mindfulness programs, where the physical rhythm of movement supports meditative attention
Exercise with structured behavioral activation, used in depression treatment to link movement with mood monitoring and goal-setting
What unites these approaches is that neither the body nor the mind is left out of the equation.
Why Does the Combination Work So Well?
The science of why blending exercise and psychological practice is so potent is still being worked out, but several mechanisms are well-supported by research.
On the physical side, aerobic exercise elevates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and boosts serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins, directly improving mood and stress resilience.
On the psychological side, practices like mindfulness, compassion training, and acceptance-based approaches help people relate differently to their thoughts and emotions. They reduce rumination, build emotional regulation skills, and shift attention away from threat and toward what matters.
When you combine the two, you get neurological and cognitive benefits reinforcing each other. The physical practice creates the biological conditions for psychological growth. The psychological practice gives the physical experience meaning, depth, and staying power.
What This Means for You
The study was focused on adults in the general population, people without diagnosed mental health conditions, which means these findings are directly relevant to everyday wellbeing, not just clinical treatment.
A few practical takeaways:
You don't have to choose between exercise and mindfulness. If you've been treating your morning run and your evening meditation as two separate boxes to tick, consider merging them. A mindful walk where you deliberately notice your surroundings, your breath, and your body's sensations might be more valuable than either alone. Hint: Leave your phone at home
Intention matters. The research suggests it's not just movement that drives the effect; it's movement paired with psychological engagement. Setting an intention before a workout, reflecting on how you feel after, or using physical activity as a form of emotional processing all count.
At Solomon Therapy, we offer Walk & Talk sessions and integrate movement-based somatic practices into our work. Please reach out to learn more.
Source: Wilkie, L. et al. (2026). "A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of well-being-focused interventions." Nature Human Behaviour. Published January 2, 2026.
