Now considering the statistics about anger and rage in the country at the moment, I’m guessing that there’s quite a few of you asking in desperation "where do I sign up?"

If you’re prone to a bit of rage yourself, fear not, you are not alone. Apparently, 50% of Britons have reacted to problems with their computers by abusing colleagues, hitting the computer, screaming, shouting or hurling parts of the PC across the room. Couple that with the fact that the UK has the 2^{nd worst road rage in the world, and it becomes clear that we have an issue with anger in this country.}

It’s no wonder really. On top of all the everyday things that happen in life, we have the additional pressures of modern living, information overload and people living at a pace that quicker than it’s ever been. Yet, anger has always been around, it’s a natural human reaction, and we need it for our own protection.

What seems to have changed, however, is our capacity to channel our anger in a more healthy and socially acceptable way. We let it build up, many of us have a very low threshold, and that’s because we haven’t adopted a coping mechanism, which doesn’t involve kicking the dog, abusing our partner or screaming at the innocent stranger who took the last parking space on the High Street.

I think I have found the answer in my anger management class. Actually, I may have misled you slightly. It’s probably not the type of anger management class you are imagining. It’s not a workshop full of people sharing their experiences, learning different coping mechanisms, although these can be very effective.

Instead, it’s Body Combat; a martial arts based class, which I go to at the local gym. It involves a lot of punching, kicking and releasing your anger out in a constructive and totally exhilarating fashion. I assure you, there is no better way of venting your fury at a cheating partner or back-stabbing colleague than at a Body Combat class. Additionally, you don’t risk losing the plot in public, then suffering the shame that inevitably follows.

Of course, this all just sounds like common sense, but there is scientific proof that backs it up. In fact, exercise is one of the most effective ways to manage most of your negative emotions. The chemicals that are released into the brain when you exercise are beneficial in many ways, and if you tune yourself into what works for you, you can start to enjoy some of the amazing benefits of the body’s natural highs. Who needs synthetic drugs when your body has everything it needs to produce feelings of euphoria, a sense of calm, excitement, wellbeing?

What is even more interesting is that you can basically choose what you want to feel by choosing the form of exercise that is going to produce the feelings you want. In effect, having different forms of exercise for the different emotions you are experiencing. Just as Body Combat helps me with my angry feelings, when I’ve got a "busy mind", I’ll choose something else. It’s about getting in tune with how you are feeling and adopting the most appropriate coping strategy.

So how does it work? Well, here comes the science bit, I’ll keep it simple. When you exercise the body releases endorphins, adrenaline, seratonin and dopamine, depending on the type of exercise you are doing.