Mind Games

Mental health is a very important part of our overall wellbeing and one of the main reasons people choose to exercise. Not only does movement increase endorphins, 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,

even on my worst days. When I don’t exercise for a while I start to feel like I’m letting my body down. My body does so much for me on a daily basis and part of self-love is to look after your mental and physical state.”

The importance of good mental heath is such a big aspect of many peoples lives but sometimes it can be hard to know where to start. “I would say to always put yourself first and do it for you. Focus on YOUR goals and aspirations and forget about what everyone else is doing because that’s not your life to live. Never go into fitness because you want to look like a certain person or fit a body type because the truth is we are all different, hence we don’t look like each other, and that’s what makes us unique. Exercise helps lift your positive vibrations and with that you can uplift yourself and perhaps others. Focus on longevity rather than quick fixes and you will form good habits! It’s all about feeling good in your own skin.”

Rasha is a keen believer of offering inspiration and encouragement to others to help them create a positive mindset towards life through fitness. “I like to spread positivity through sharing my experiences and helping others overcome negative body image the same way I did. During COVID it’s important to keep reminding others that we are truly in this together and we can use this time to better our habits and lifestyles. Fitness had SUCH an impact on my life as it helped me overcome my darkest moments, when I was in a place where I felt so alone. My experience taught me that I don’t want other women feeling that way and therefore it inspires me to always spread kindness and positivity through sharing exercise tips, daily quotes and reminding people not to compare themselves to others as it never leads to good outcomes.”

Rasha is a great example of just how powerful exercise and weight training can be when it comes to helping with mental health. It can help change your mindset towards things that may have bothered you in the past, creating a more fulfilling life. By simply enjoying the way your body can move and grow is honestly the most powerful tool you can have when it comes to improving your mental health! Give it a go as it may even change your life forever!

Check out Rasha on Instagram - @leanlioness

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