Hormones control everything we do, but we rarely think about them. Every time you exercise, special hormones in your body spring into action. Released by your system when you move, they give you energy, spark your motivation, and boost your mood.

"Hormones are essential for your ability to work out effectively," says Katarina Borer, Ph.D., a professor of movement science and the director of the Exercise Endocrinology Laboratory at the University of Michigan. "They improve your heart and lung function, they bring fuel to your muscles, and they help your body recover afterward." Even so, these exercise hormones are virtually unknown and underappreciated—but that's about to change.

Read the full article by Meril Ketchiff in Shape to learn more about how to harness your hormones for a better workout.