Photo: Syke by Mark Jolly
WINTER BLUES IN ROCHDALE?
THE ANSWER COULD BE ON YOUR DOORSTEP It's the dead of winter, we're in the north of England, and the days are about as short as they get. There's not much that can be done to beat the winter blues when you live in rainy Rochdale, right? Wrong, apparently... According to some local fitness and mental health experts, Rochdale’s location is quite the ideal place to live if you want to tackle that winter sluggishness. Not because we have glorious sunshine as we all know that’s not the case, but because we live amongst some of the biggest "mood lifters" - which are scientifically proven to boost our health, mood and overall well being. No, we're not referring to the pubs (though there's no shortage of good ones in Rochdale), what we’re actually referring to is...our glorious, largely unmatched, outdoor beauty spots. Many of the hidden gems in and around the borough tend to be overlooked by the average Rochdalian, especially when the weather is less than inviting. But with physical fitness being so closely connected with mental and emotional health, one has to wonder what they truly have to offer in terms of banishing those glum moods. 46 | Rochdale Style
According to professional fitness and strength coach Andy Lavery, who runs his own gym in Rochdale, living in the borough has major benefits for beating the winter blues. A simple stroll around Hollingworth Lake, or a wander through Healey Dell, can be enough to kick-start those feel-good chemicals that ultimately change how we feel - making it much easier to tolerate those dark and cold days. Andy, who founded Apocalypse Training Systems in Rochdale, has been helping local people reach physical fitness since 2017, and runs kids' classes to help keep the younger generation more active. Also a keen walker and fan of the local outdoors, Andy says that our local green spaces could be used more for tackling mental health issues, as well as the common seasonal blues that some of us can experience at this time of year. He said: "There are tons of reasons people struggle more in winter. Obviously the darker nights and colder weather makes people less likely to move their bodies, which can lead to a decreased mood.
Kirsty Rigg Features writer
"But then, if you look at the time of year as well, it’s a time of increased stress with things like work deadlines, holidays, pressures at Christmas and so on. "To top it all people are generally out and about less and it can be a lonely time." He added: "It's great to join a gym community that only wants you to win, but you can start by arranging a walk with a friend. "Living in Rochdale, we're surrounded by some amazing walking routes with views that would match anywhere else in the country, and for most are less than a 10 minute drive away." According to the NHS, a brisk, 10 minute walk can improve your stamina, burn excess calories and make your heart healthier, all whilst keeping your mental health in check. But nutrition also has a huge part to play. David Leeming who runs The Health Food Centre in Rochdale town centre, says it's worth being mindful of the vitamins and minerals we are using throughout winter to keep our levels up when it’s needed the most.
