At West Wood we encounter a host of reasons why people are drawn to exercise. But with the stigma long associated with poor mental health now firmly banished, letting the light shine on the issue, more and more people are owning that one of the main gains is improved mood and greater positivity. Yes, it will also reduce body fat, improve heart health, possibly add years to your lifespan, but the incontrovertible truth is that it makes you feel great.
We train many clients working for the HSE in all sorts of capacities. We train them and they train their patients to live a healthier lifestyle. The message on their website is clear:
‘Keeping active helps protect both your physical and mental health. Regular exercise will help you sleep, relax and feel better. Exercise helps reduce stress and boosts your energy levels. It can also be a good way to meet people and get more involved in your community.
Physical activity can cause chemical changes in the brain. These changes help to improve your mood. Exercise is especially useful for people with mild to moderate depression. Regular exercise can have a profoundly positive impact on depression, anxiety, and ADHD. It also relieves stress, improves memory, helps you sleep better, and boosts your overall mood.’
Martine Montgomery is a high-level healthcare executive who trains regularly at West Wood Westmanstown. She tells me: ‘We have always been told the benefits of exercise on our general health but the impact on our mental health is greater. Over 2 years ago I made a commitment to myself to get strong – this will give me the tools to face anything thrown my way! I linked in with a PT and the change in my attitude and health has been amazing! By focusing on what I could control it gave me the ability to manage what I couldn’t. It gave me the self-belief that I would be able to deal with any challenge that presented itself and boy was I challenged during lockdown. Instead, taking a positive approach to stay active helped enormously with dealing with the restrictions and working throughout, not only for me but for those around me (!). I decided to set myself mini goals – run 5k, complete 100k walking challenge, ran 5k a day for a month, climbed mountains, did some sea swimming… when I completed them the feeling was ferocious!’
Martine is a great example of the power of exercise to build resilience to keep you strong during testing times. Exercise is a powerful depression fighter for several reasons. Most importantly, it promotes all kinds of changes in the brain, including neural growth, reduced inflammation, and new activity patterns that promote feelings of calm and well-being. It also releases endorphins, powerful chemicals in your brain that energize your spirits and make you feel good. Finally, exercise can also serve as a distraction, allowing you to find some quiet time to break out of the cycle of negative thoughts that feed depression.
It matters not what kind of exercise you seek out to improve your mental health. As long as you enjoy doing it, that’s all that counts. You could be cross legged in a Himalayan ashram or sweating it out in one of our cycle studios – as long as you feel great and leave with a big, satisfied smile on your face that’s good enough.
No wonder we trainers say we have the best job in the world. We help people become the very best versions of themselves. We help them become the best they can be. That’s great for our mental health too. Thanks for that guys.
Kathy O’Meara is a personal trainer specialising in cancer and cardiac exercise rehabilitation. She is a sports therapist, movement specialist, reflexologist and teaches a range of Les Mills classes at West Wood Club, Westmanstown www.powerdown.ie