Out & About Summer 2021

Out&About wellbeing

FITNESS What does it mean to you to get moving? VICKI BROWN says by adopting a positive attitude when adding a little extra exercise into your daily routine, you will feel the physical and mental benefits.

D o you always think of exercise as a chore? Something you have to do and don’t have time for? around movement – and see it as an opportunity. When thinking about exercise or movement you could say: l I get the opportunity to move my body l My body is capable of… x,y,z l I can/ I get to make my body… stronger, fitter, more flexible l I can…(insert what your body is able to do) l I enjoy this song and am going to move my body however I feel I want to, until the song comes to an end – I’ve moved and I’ve had fun doing it Exercise or movement will benefit you in body and mind, but does not have to come in the form of a specific exercise regime – although if that works for you, it is a good place to start. It can be simply adding more activity into your day and appreciating the opportunity, rather than feeling like a punishment or a chore, and that makes it more engaging. Ask yourself: How do you want to feel? What can your body do now? What would you like your body to be able to do? How about trying to reframe your mindset

that will show positive outcomes both physically and mentally. This is why it should be a priority, but also something that is part of life. The small choices we make everyday add up to make the biggest difference. What does it mean to me to be fit/strong/flexible? Does it mean being able to play with your child or grandchild on the floor, to be able to take the stairs instead of the lift? Will it mean you can run to catch the train that is about to leave? Not get out of breath doing something that currently challenges you? Or simply being able to do what you want to physically, at any age, without feeling that you can’t? These are the powerful, real life situations that matter, the things that you need to be able to do. Movement can aid so much of this, so take the stairs, park further away, do some stretching while you watch the television. The benefits outweigh the ‘chore’ – you just need to build those healthy habits for life. This summer you may be inspired by televised sports such as Wimbledon or The Olympics – maybe try a sport that you never have thought about before. Find a way to move, and remember, make the most of the opportunity to move your body and feel good in the process. What are you going to try?

What makes that important to you? Think about the possibilities. It may be an effort, but you can find something fun or good in the process and enjoy the results. Why move? Fitness is described in the Cambridge Dictionary as “the condition of being physically strong and healthy” and “the activities related to keeping healthy and strong”. It is a broad term that many people want to have as part of their lifestyle. What would achieving this mean for your life? Strength – At its most basic, you simply feeling stronger and more able to perform daily tasks. Ultimately the benefits of strength training are numerous. It helps you to maintain and build muscle tissue, increase strength and improve bone health (preventing diseases such as osteoporosis).

You can adjust your body composition by increasing your muscle mass and you can reduce your overall risk of injury. And it can make you feel good, improve confidence, and increase overall performance in daily life. Flexibility – Incorporating some flexibility and mobility into your week will aid movement, reduce stiffness and soreness in everyday life. There are things you can do sitting at your desk or watching the TV, which will reduce tension in the body and ease aches. If you want to be able to achieve the splits, set it as a goal and focus on regular movement to target this result. Whatever the outcome you will feel better to incorporate some moves into your day. The benefits of exercise are physical and mental. Moving your body triggers processes in the body

Vicki Brown runs LiveFitNow, Wash Common, Newbury. T: 07879 447829 www.LifeFitNow.co.uk

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O&A SUMMER 2021