This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, so we wanted to highlight some stats and facts around the link between mental health and physical activity.
Mental health charity, Mind, highlights six benefits of exercise for mental health:
- Improve your sleep: taking part in regular moderate exercise can relieve tension leading to a restful night and improved sleep.
- Lower your risk of depression by up to 30%.
- Improve your mood: exercise can release endorphins (‘feel-good’ hormones) that can lift your mood.
- Reduce stress and anxiety: physical activity releases cortisol which helps us manage stress. Being physically active also gives your brain something to focus on and can be a positive coping strategy for difficult times.
- Increase self-esteem: the sense of achievement you can get from exercising or learning a new skill can help you to feel better about yourself and improve your mood.
- Improve social connections: taking part in physical activity can allow you to connect with more people and make new friends.
Mind offers several tips to help you get started in your physical activity journey, whether you want to get active with friends or family, at home or outdoors or when you’re short of time, click here for their suggestions.
Royal Holloway Sport want to make sure that getting started in being physically active is simple and enjoyable for you.
Going to the gym and using our sports facilities
There are low-cost, flexible memberships available for all students of Royal Holloway with options for a one-week, four-week or three-month membership. These memberships give you free access to bookable gym sessions (and group exercise classes when they are able to resume). They also give you access to low-cost facility hire should you want to kick a ball around or shoot some hoops with your friends*. Purchase your membership now here.
If you are particularly struggling with your mental health and would like to look into getting a fitness membership to combat this, please get in touch with the Student Advisory and Wellbeing team.
Bootcamp
As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, we are launching a free bootcamp to anyone with a sports pass from tomorrow (11 May) running for four weeks. The sessions will take place every Tuesday and Thursday at 5.30pm on the Astro. The sessions will be led by a qualified Level 3 Personal Trainer and spaces will be limited to help you grow in strength and confidence. You can book onto each session up to six days in advance here.
Online class timetable
From yoga to pilates, to HIIT workouts and barre, to Zumba and LBT, we’re still running our online timetable to allow you to work out from the comfort of your own home. There’s even some meditation and journaling in there to introduce you to some great practices which will positively impact your mental wellbeing. Find out more here.
In-person group exercise classes
From Monday 17 May we are excited to be restarting our group exercise programme in line with the next step on the government’s roadmap. Timetable details will be released this week, so keep an eye on Royal Holloway Sport’s social media channels (@rhulsport).
Further support
If you are feeling overwhelmed, we have support services from our Student Advisory and Wellbeing team where you can discuss any concerns, issues or worries you have whether it is about you or a friend. Please contact us via email if you would like to chat with an Advisor who will be able to listen to your worries and help you in getting the right support for you. If you are really struggling with your wellbeing and don’t feel you can keep yourself safe please contact 999 and speak to an operator who will be able to get you immediate support.
Furthermore, it is proven that our mental health and wellbeing are assisted and improved by exercise and diet. We would always encourage you to try and get in some form of exercise in order to improve your mood and wellbeing.
*Please note there may be restrictions to the number of people able to attend sessions depending on the government guidance at the time of the session.