World Mental Health Day 2023 is an opportunity for people and communities to unite behind the theme ‘Mental health is a universal human right” to improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health as a universal human right. Mental health is a basic human right for all people. Everyone, whoever and wherever they are, has a right to the highest attainable standard of mental health.
Good mental health is vital to our overall health and well-being. Yet one in eight people globally are living with mental health conditions, which can impact their physical health, their well-being and how they connect with others. Here at Care for the Carers we are always on the search for new ways to improve mental health and wellbeing.
How does physical activity improve my health?
There are lots of benefits to taking part in physical exercise. Not only will it help your mental health, but your physical health will improve too.
Some of the ways that taking part in physical activity can improve your health and wellbeing:
• Make us fitter
• Help us to manage your weight
• Build us to strength and muscle
• Keep your joints healthy
• Make you feel good about yourself
• Help us to prevent physical health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, strokes, and some cancers
How does physical activity affect my mental health?
Exercise is key for good mental health. When we exercise our bodies we release a natural hormone called ‘endorphins’, these make you feel good and improve your mood. But there are lots of other ways exercise helps with our mental health such as: better concentration, better sleep and feeling more motivated.
Any activity is better than none. You don’t have to start lifting weights in the gym. NHS guidelines suggest doing 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. You can break this up into 5 x 30-minute sessions, or 10 x 15-minute sessions. Moderate activity will raise your heart rate and break you into a sweat. But you should not be so breathless that you can’t talk.
If you are looking for a fitness class with a difference then maybe Swoove is for you.
A word from Cat the organiser…
What to expect in class? The first ten minutes of the class concentrates on warming up the voices and the bodies. The main bulk of the class is then back to back out of this world music that you just can’t help but Swoove to. If you don’t have the breath to sing, then you whoop as this takes less effort, but you still burn more calories than being silent! The moves are easy to follow…plus if you go wrong you just remember that laughing for 3 minutes burns more calories than running for a mile! There are no breaks in-between songs as this means your heart rate doesn’t lower too much, however you can grab water whenever you like. The class concludes with a 10 minute cool down.
If you would like to get involved please call Cat directly at Swoove, her number is 07843 947383 or email her on cgb2903@hotmail.co.uk
Cat’s SWOOVE Fitness class times:
Mondays: The Broadway United Church, 13 The Broadway, Broadway Mews, Eastbourne, BN22 0AS Swoove Fitness 9.15am – 10.15am
Wednesdays: The Diplocks Hall, The Diplocks, Hailsham, BN27 3JY Swoove Fitness 9.30am – 10.30am
Woodingdean Community Centre, Warren Road, Woodingdean, BN2 6BA Swoove Fitness 12.30pm – 1.30pm
Thursdays: The Arthur Easton Centre @ St Michael’s Hospice, Upper Maze Hill, St Leonards On Sea, TN38 0LB Swoove Fitness 6.30pm – 7.30pm
Join Cat for a free SWOOVE session on Tuesday 10th October:
