MIND Games Mental health is a ver y impor tant par t of our overall wellbeing and one of the main reasons people choose to exercise. Not only does movement increase endor phins, but it also puts you in the right mindset to thrive in life!
Rasha Hallak is a 29 year old female fitness fanatic using exercise and training as a way to manage her mental health. Back in June 2019, Rasha started out on a fitness journey to help give her that little extra mood boost she was lacking on a day-to-day. “I started my fitness journey last year June & I did it because I wanted to feel better about myself as I wasn’t in the right state of mind.” With an increase in social media usage throughout the lockdown and being isolated from friends and family for so long the nation’s mental health is currently at an all time low. Young Minds reported that “80% of respondents agreed that the coronavirus pandemic had made their mental health worse.” To make matters worse we keep having the gym taken away from us. It can be hard to adjust to this new way of living and training but the benefits of regular movement will help decrease the risk of having low mental health. Rasha is a lover of weight training and really sees the benefits of incorporating it into her routine regularly. “It makes me feel stronger mentality and physically and made me realise what my body was capable of doing. It also makes me feel
empowered & mentally stronger. It’s the time I get to spend with myself caring for my body, mind and soul.” Whether you are training at home or at the gym, the mental benefits of weight training is like no other. Not only does it increase the endorphins but it also gives you that sense of empowerment and accomplishment. You will want to push harder to be able to lift heavier and you will work towards doing more reps and sets each time to increase the difficulty of each session. There is so much more to weight training than simply getting fit and healthy. “It’s a chance to reflect & helps me realise that I am so much stronger than my negative thoughts.” Although it can be difficult to find the motivation to train when you are stuck at home all day; it has too many benefits to ignore. “COVID helped me recognise the importance of fitness for mental health. I managed to build even better habits and practised positive thinking to overcome my negative thoughts.” Having the gym taken away from you and having to rethink your workouts can be tough but it gives you a new perspective on training. “Working out makes me feel so positive,
47
