With life back to it's usual hectic pace, fitting exercise into your routine isn't always an easy task.
It’s important to remember that exercise is about so much more than building muscle or losing weight. Finding the motivation to move can be helped by shifting your mindset from tracking physical progress and instead focusing on the ways exercise improves your emotional wellbeing.
Whether you’re in need of boosting your mood, relieving some stress, or getting a better night's kip, staying active is proven to have an immediate, positive effect on the way you’re feeling.
If you’re feeling down in the dumps, here’s a few endorphin boosting workouts that will leave you feeling fitter, healthier and happier during these challenging times…
Low mood?
If the constant stream of negative news has left you feeling anxious, a good old boogie could be the answer. Like other forms of exercise, dancing releases feel-good, stress-reducing neurochemicals, but the concentration required to follow the moves also fully engages the brain and helps you switch off from outside stressors. Sha’Bam by Les Mills is the insanely addictive dance fitness class that never feels like a chore. Set to a party playlist, this full body workout is sure to get your heart pumping and boost your mood!
Feeling fatigued?
When you’re feeling tired, it’s a common misconception that working out will add to your fatigue. However, research suggests that by utilising stored up energy, you are actually making more of it. Although any kind of physical activity will hold these benefits to a varying degree, a high energy HIITStep class will get your heart pumping to the max, increasing blood flow around the body and the brain, preventing that mid-afternoon slump.
Stressed out?
It’s no secret that Yoga is a great antidote to stress. Regular Yoga improves blood circulation and eases the muscles, which along with controlled breathing exercises helps to calm your nerves and reduce stress levels. If worrying is keeping you awake at night, Yoga has also been proven to promote better sleep quality, helping you fall asleep faster and easily drift back off if you wake in the night.
Struggling to concentrate?
If you’re struggling to concentrate with one task at a time and find yourself flitting between jobs, exercise can help you to knuckle down and get stuff done. Studies show that breaking up mental tasks with bouts of aerobic exercise, increases your attention span and helps you to concentrate for longer. If you find yourself easily distracted when working from home, try a quick lunchtime workout to boost your focus for the afternoon. HIIT workouts are perfect to squeeze into a tight schedule and can be completed in as little as 20 minutes with effects that last for the rest of the day.
All tensed up?
After a particularly stressful day at work, you’re probably holding on to some serious tension. A combat class is a great way to channel built up negative emotions and relieve muscle tension that can collect when you experience stress. As you punch, kick and jab, you will find your focus is improved, increasing your concentration and helping you forget the reasons why you are stressed.
