Some people think of exercise as something that pumps you up and boosts your adrenalin, but the results of a new study indicate that regular exercise can actually significantly reduce the symptoms of anxiety. According to a story over at ScienceDaily (Regular Exercise Reduces Patient Anxiety by 20 Percent, Study Finds), University of Georgia researchers looked at the exercise patterns of nearly 3,000 patients with a variety of medical conditions (from heart conditions to arthritis) and found that, on average, those who exercised regularly reported a 20 percent reduction in the symptoms of anxiety (nervousness, worry, etc.) than patients who did not exercise.

So how can exercise lower anxiety?

Exercise sessions greater than 30 minutes were found to be more effective than those less than 30 minutes, and commitment to a regular program of exercise was also found to be beneficial. The researchers found that both walking and weight lifting were particularly effective to combat anxiety, and that the results of this study tie in nicely with previous findings about how exercise can help to combat depression. Plus, they point out, it's a lot cheaper and better for the body than prescribing medication - especially for those who are already battling ailments of some kind. And exercise can help even those who aren't particularly anxious or nervous become even more calm.

One of the most obvious choices for anxiety-suppressing exercise is yoga. Whenever I'm feeling stressed out or anxious, I find that a short, moderate session of yoga on my office floor brings my head back to my shoulders, normalizes my breathing and helps me get on with my day. And when I miss out on this regime (for any dumb excuse from too much work to too much red wine the night before), my body and mind let me know pretty quickly. I also like to take long walks when I need to figure something out; there's something about the constant movement and the passing background action that calms me down and helps me think.

So what kind of exercise do you do to tame anxiety?