GoodGym, 30–34
Gormley, Ivo, 31
The Great Dance: A Hunter’s Story (film), 21–22
green exercise
biophilia, 156–57, 169–72, 178
effects on the brain of, 160–61
effects on the brain compared to drugs, 165
fast-acting benefits of, 157–58
feelings of prospect and refuge, 166
forest-walking as treatment for depression, 156
Green Gym, 172–74, 175–77
Susan Heard’s outdoor runs to combat grief, 154–55
Maura Kelly’s outdoor walk to escape depression, 157–58
outdoor aspect of all long-distance races, 188–89
psychological benefits of, 155–57
soft fascination, 162
spiritual experiences, 165–68
Stanford University study of the effects of a nature walk on brain activity, 160
Green Gym, 172–74, 175–77
grief, 154–55, 178
grooming behaviors of primates, 78
Groopman, Jerome, 147
groove, 97–98
group exercise
author’s dream of becoming a group exercise instructor, 1–3
collective effervescence, 68–69
development of new activities, 94–95
GoodGym, 30–34
social support of, 26–27, 80–81, 214–15
Susan honoring Henry as an example of a community created by exercise class participants, 80–81
as a way to combat depression after the Great East Japan Earthquake, 90–91
Hadza tribe of Tanzania
activity levels within the tribe, 12–13
evening activities, 29
hunting and foraging lifestyle, 12
meat pirating experience, 11–12
overall health, 13
sharing and cooperative behavior, 28
Haefele, Nora, 44–47
happiness
Dartmouth College happy songs and happy animations experiments, 111–13
exercise-induced euphoria, 9–11, 18
happy music and joyful movement, 111–13
from movement, 3–4
taking pleasure in the activities that help us survive, 6
“Happy” (song), 111
Harvie, Robin, 181, 185
“Hava Nagila” (song/dance), 112
Head of the Charles Regatta, 209–11
Heard, Daisy, 178
Heard, David, 153–55, 178
Heard, Susan, 153–55, 178
helping others
within the animal kingdom, 133–34
Hurricane Harvey, 91–92
Hurricane Katrina, 92
Hurricane Sandy, 174–75
unexpected heroes, 133
yoga class response post-9/11, 72–73
hope, 144–45, 147–48, 181, 190, 193
“hope molecules,” 5
Howell, Andrew, 166–67
Hustle Chicago (charity event), 89
Hutchings, Pete, 172–74, 177
Iditarod Trail Invitational, 181
instincts
the desire to move when music is heard, 97–98
taking pleasure in the activities that help us survive, 6
International Space Station crew members’ nature deficit, 169–71
irisin (“exercise hormone”), 191–92, 194
Ironman World Championship, 185–86
“It Is Well with My Soul” (hymn), 187–88
Jane (author’s twin sister), 57–59, 84, 136
Jazzercise Dance for Life charity event, 90
jiujitsu tradition of sharing gear, 29
Johnson, Pamela Jo, 136–37
joy
feeling, showing, and sharing, 117–18
universal demonstrations of, 111–13, 213–14
Julia’s story (older woman with a runner’s high from daily exercise), 18
Karageorghis, Costas, 101–5, 108–9
Kauai Marathon, 188
Keeping Together in Time (McNeill), 85
Kelly, Maura, 157–58
ketamine, 160–61
Khoudari, Laura, 137
kickboxing, 61
kinaesthetics of togetherness, 74–75
King, Martin Luther, Jr., 107
Kissin, Benjamin, 47
Kohles, Caroline, 80–81
Kombol, Nolan, 128–30, 130, 132–33
Konesni, Bennett, 100
Langwane, Karoha, 21
Lanman, Jonathan A., 205
learned helplessness, 130
Lehrer, Jonah, 148
Lieberman, Daniel, 10
Lister, Craig, 172, 175–76
Loland, Sigmund, 212, 213
The Lure of Long Distances (Harvie), 181
Maasai warriors of Kenya jumping dance, 113
MacPhee, Amara, 105–8
Maisel, Remy, 33–34
Man’s Search for Himself (May), 171
Marajó Island, Brazil
carimbó dancing, 69–70, 94
dance experiment, 71
Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei, Japan, 206–7
marching, 85–87, 98–99
Marcora, Samuele, 40
Martin, John Joseph, 149
May, Rollo, 171–72
McGonigal, Kelly
dream of becoming a group exercise instructor, 1–3, 75–77
exercise as a way of coping with anxiety, 60–61
exercise-related anticipatory pleasure, 48–50
insights gained in nature about terminally ill cat, 167–68
king pigeon yoga pose and its impact, 140
lessons learned from various exercise forms, 2
maternal grandparents’ love of dance, 118–21, 123
photos and stories collected, 209–12, 214–16
McNeill, William H., 85–87, 95
meditation, 159–60, 162
Melbourne, Australia, tree communications, 168–69
mental health. See addiction; anxiety; depression
Merrifield, Cathy, 125–26, 129, 131
methylphenidate, 40
Midway charity events, 90
mindfulness, 156, 162
Miriam’s story (Parkinson’s disease sufferer who exercises to music), 113–14
Mitsunaga, Endo, 206–7
modafinil, 40
Morris, Hamilton, 23–24
Moses, Edwin, 102
motivation of early humans, 15–16
movement
the desire to move when music is heard, 97–98, 121–22
the emotional power of, 2–3, 212–13
and happiness, 3–4
happy music and joyful movement, 111–13
physical activity as self-care, 161–62
sympathetic response to, 148–49
as a way to connect to others, 7, 212–13, 215
as a way to fulfill core human needs, 6–7, 214
muscular bonding, 85–86
music
the brain’s response to hearing, 98, 100, 117
custom playlists for athletes, 101–5
Dance for PD program at Juilliard, 113–16, 117–18
the desire to move when music is heard, 97–98, 121–22
effects of music on cardiovascular stress test results, 100–101
ergogenic nature of, 100
groove, 97–98
happy music and joyful movement, 111–13
to help encourage rehabilitation, 107–8
as inspiration to keep moving, 98–99, 110
lyrics that emphasize perseverance and de
termination, 103–4
as a performance-enhancing drug, 101
power songs, 103–4, 107
to reduce team conflict, 108
therapeutic effects of, 120–23
work songs, 100
myokines
“hope molecules,” 5
irisin (the “exercise hormone”), 191–92, 194
role of, 191–94
National Study of Daily Experiences, 24–25
natural selection
of animals who hunt or scavenge, 17
favoring within-group cooperation, 28
foraging cognition skills, 163
physical traits that helped our ancestors run, 14–15
nature
biophilia, 156–57, 169–72, 178
collectively cared-for green spaces, 174–77
Green Gym, 172–74, 175–77
International Space Station crew members’ nature deficit, 169–71
Melbourne tree communications, 168–69
NASA recommendation of gardening for psychological health, 171
old friends hypothesis, 171–72
outdoor aspect of all long-distance races, 188–89
social capital built through gardening, 174–75
nature-harnessing, 93, 95
Nia movement form, 80
90K Comrades Marathon, 181
Norris, Katie, 137–40, 149–50
old friends hypothesis, 171–72
Ostovar, Roya, 86
Ottawa Rowing Club, 209–11
outdoor exercise. See green exercise
pain tolerance
synchrony’s effects on, 72
when experienced with others, 205
Palermo, Devon, 141–44, 145–46
Parkinson’s disease
Dance for PD program at Juilliard, 113–16, 117–18
facial masking, 116, 117
Israeli patient able to run because of his wife’s support, 145
Miriam’s story, 113–14
symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, 116
partner carry movement, 137–39
Passmore, Holli-Anne, 166–67
Perry, Thomas O., 177–78
persistence as a requirement for survival, 21–22
persistence high, 17–18. See also runner’s high
personal space, 75, 94
Peters, Andrew Fusek, 161–62
Pettit, Don, 170–71
Pharr Davis, Jennifer, 185
physiological effects of exercise
in the brain, 4–5, 62
“hope molecules” secreted into the bloodstream, 5
pleasure gloss, 47–51
Pollan, Michael, 166
Pontzer, Herman, 11–13, 15–16, 27–28
power songs, 103–4, 107
primate grooming behaviors, 78
proprioception, 134–36, 149
The Pursuit of Endurance (Pharr Davis), 185
Quicke, Jenna, 204–5
Radcliffe-Brown, A. R., 70–71, 77, 94, 112
Raichlen, David, 15–17, 30
Redmond, Derek, 202–3
resilience, 91–92, 190–91
reward system of the brain, 52–54, 64–65, 159
Richter, Joachim, 86
Rimonabant (weight-loss drug), 23–24
Rivera, Victor, 129
rock-climbing
author’s fears of, 198–201
Terri Schneider’s fears of, 197–98
Rocky (film), 99, 104
Roll, Rich, 165
Rosati, Alexandra, 163
rowing
Head of the Charles Regatta, 209–11
Ottawa Rowing Club, 209–11
“rowing cocaine” sound, 67–68
synchronization required for, 67–68
rubber hand illusion, 74
runner’s high. See also persistence high
benefits of, 24, 34–35
described, 9–10
evolutionary explanation for, 16
increase in social bonding, 27–28, 35
Julia example of an older woman with a runner’s high from daily exercise, 18
maximization at a jogging pace, 17
origins in early ancestors’ lives, 10–11
from other exercise of moderate intensity, 17–18
in other sports, 10
as the temporary reward before bigger goals, 22–23
The Runner’s High (Sturn), 9–10
running
Antelope Island ultramarathon, 179–80, 185
and the feeling of belonging, 34–35
First Strides, 178
GoodGym visits to socially isolated people, 31–33
in a group setting, 25–26
Susan Heard’s outdoor runs to combat grief, 154–55
Jogging over a Distance app, 81
Joggobot robotic jogging companion, 82–83
physical adaptations for optimizing, 15
Raichlen’s treadmill experiments, 16–17
research to breed mice as super-runners, 54–55
as therapy for Jody Bender, 20–21, 22–23
ultrarunning, 182–83, 204–5
Ruth’s story (stroke survivor with a Wall of Greatness goal achieved), 142
Sacks, Oliver, 98, 121
Sajche, Oscar, 91–92
Salazar, Bernie, 122–23
San Pedro Manrique, Spain, firewalkers, 133, 205
Sapienza University study of physical activity’s effects on sharing, 29–30
Schneider, Terri, 195–201
sedentary behavior, 13–14
self
expanded sense of, 75–76
self-concept, 134–37
self-care, 161–62
Senerat, Araliya Ming, 127
sensations
of effort, 105
of your body’s movements (proprioception), 134–36, 149
sensory cues, 47–51
sharing
cooperation high, 28–29
Hadza tribe of Tanzania, 28
Sapienza University study of physical activity’s effects on sharing, 29–30
Sheth, Amit, 34
sleep quality and exercise study, 37–38
Snyder, C. R., 144
social connections
five circles of connection, 78–79
of group exercise, 26–27
as an important function of collective joy, 78
Jane’s running group 10K example, 84
primate grooming behaviors, 78
running and the feeling of belonging, 34–35
support of family and friends, 145–46
and virtual reality, 83–84
soft fascination, 162
Sogge, Kimberly, 68, 73, 79, 209–11, 213
space, the nature deficit while in, 169–71
Spafford, Horatio, 187
Spartathalon, 180, 185
spiritual experiences
author’s insights gained in nature about terminally ill cat, 167–68
Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei, Japan, 206–7
while in nature, 165–68
Stanford Dance Marathon, 109–10
Stanford University study of the effects of a nature walk on brain activity, 160
strength
demonstrating that you can handle more than you thought you could, 137–39
finding a strength you didn’t know you had, 138–40
thinking of physical action as a way to support yourself, 139–40
Sturn, Dan, 9–10
support
importance of family and friends, 14
5–46
Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei, Japan, 206–7
Derek Redmond’s father’s show of support at the Olympics, 202–3
required by endurance athletes, 203–8
social support of group exercise, 26–27, 80–81
Susan honoring Henry as an example of communities created by exercise class participants, 80–81
sweat, differences in odor, 94
sympathetic response to movement, 148–49
synchronized movement
in the animal kingdom, 86
as a defense tactic, 86
effects on participants as well as observers, 87
experiments with sounds of synchronized footsteps, 86–87
in humans, 92–93
Ottawa Rowing Club, 209–11
synchrony
between the instructor and students in a group exercise class, 76
moving in, 71–72
rubber hand illusion, 74
virtual reality avatars, 83–84
Szabo, Attila, 38
Tarr, Bronwyn, 69–75, 83, 89, 93–94
teamwork
Ottawa Rowing Club, 209–11
required for Tough Mudder obstacle course challenges, 131–32
technology
creating a community not limited by proximity, 81
Jogging over a Distance app, 81
Joggobot robotic jogging companion, 82–83
Peloton classes, 82, 85
versus real-life contact, 84
virtual reality and social connections, 83–84
Terhaar, Terry Louise, 166
ter Kuile, Casper, 79–80
Terra Australis Bike Epic, 180–81
THC, 24
Thompson, Ian, 47
305 Fitness, 106, 107–8
Thurston, Angie, 79–80
“Till I Collapse” (song), 103
time
depression and the perception of, 184–85
passage of time during an ultra-endurance athletic event, 185
required for developing an exercise habit, 42
Title IX, 46
Torres, Christina, 187–88
Tough Mudder obstacle course
Arctic Enema challenge, 129
Block Ness Monster challenge, 131–32
the decision point, 129–31
Electroshock Therapy challenge, 128, 129–31
Everest challenge, 132
first impressions, 127
habanero pepper challenge, 128
Hold Your Wood challenge, 132
Cathy Merrifield’s experiences, 125–26
obstacle design, 128–29
Pyramid Scheme challenge, 132
The Joy of Movement Page 26
