Have you ever noticed that the more successful, intelligent, and respected people are the one's most serious about their workouts?  They are also the ones leading a healthful life by eating more whole foods and not taking excessive supplements drugs.

Exercise is highly beneficial to ones overall health, mental state, and physical appearance.  There is also increasing evidence supporting the theory of exercise stimulating brain functionality. 

"Exercise in many ways optimizes your brain to learn," says Dr. John Ratey, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School in Boston who's at work on a book about exercise and the brain.

Exercise improves circulation throughout the body, including the brain, Ratey explains.  Exercise also boosts metabolism, decreases stress and improves mood and attention, all of which help the brain perform better, he says.

"The brain cells actually become more resilient and more pliable and are more ready to link up," he says.  It's this linking up that allows us to retain new information.

Now get up, get moving, and reap the benefits of a powerful mind.