It’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and so I wanted to write a little something about Mental Health when it comes to exercise. 

I absolutely LOVE MY JOB. I get to meet so many different people, with different jobs, interests, families and outlooks on life.

The more folks I meet, the more reasons that emerge for individuals wanting to take on a Personal Training programme. Primarily, weight loss and improved body composition are the motivating factors. The PHYSICAL benefits. As time goes on, the physical changes start to bring benefits for the individual, and their families, mentally:

• Couples have told me that they are arguing less, as they are sleeping better, which helps them tackle the anxieties and stresses of the next day with a clearer, better rested head.
• I have been over to train individuals after a particularly horrible day at work, finding them feeling relaxed and ‘lifted’ by the end of the hour – either through letting it all out with a bit of boxing (!), or chatting through the day whilst working through resistance work and stretches.
• I have been informed that gaining strength where someone once was convinced they would never have it has given such a profound sense of achievement and pride that they feel a boost in confidence and feel more comfortable with themselves.

From my own experience, appreciating my body for what it can do, what I can achieve, how strong or fast or energetic I can be, has helped me gain confidence and be comfortable with myself physically, which has had an enormous positive  impact on me mentally.

I have wanted to share and give this feeling to others ever since I started training. And I feel so happy that I see this feeling in others when we work together.

I urge you to check out this article from MentalHealth.org.uk Mental Health and Exercise if you need any more convincing that Exercise is about so much more than just the Physical Benefits.

Don’t underestimate the importance of being kind to yourself.