The way we talk about exercise has come a long way over the last 10 years. Gone are the days when the sole focus of working out was to lose weight and achieve a ‘toned physique’; now, there’s much more focus on how exercise makes us feel, including its ability to relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression.

But beyond protecting us from these negative outcomes, could exercise add to our happiness cup, too? While constantly chasing joy may not be the answer to feeling more of it (a reality known as the ‘happiness paradox’), some claim that regular exercise could help us to experience more ‘positive’ emotions. In fact, it’s thought that there are specific exercises – nicknamed ‘joy moves’ – that can boost these feelings directly.

But is there any truth behind these claims? And if so, what’s the best way to reap the benefits?

Can you train yourself happy? The positive impact of exercise on our emotions – and how to make the most of it