The creator of several residential programs focused on personal growth, L. Jay Mitchell founded Greenbrier Academy for Girls in Lewisburg, West, Virginia. Under L. Jay Mitchell’s leadership, the boarding school offers immersive therapeutic programming, such as equine therapy, therapeutic drumming, and various body-based practices.
Based on the evidence-based SPARK PE High School curriculum, the Balanced Body & Mind class at Greenbrier leverages the power of physical movement to support mental and emotional well-being. Because it stimulates chemicals that improve your mood, exercise can profoundly impact mental health. Vigorous exercise that raises the heart rate contributes to the release of endorphins, feel-good chemicals that enhance a person’s sense of well-being.
Exercise also improves the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to certain areas of the brain and increases neurohormones that support connections among neurons. Research indicates that exercise contributes to creating new neurons in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that governs memory and emotional regulation. In some cases, exercise can be as effective as medication for depression and anxiety.
