Health benefits of exercise

Exercising can have a huge impact on your wellbeing, not just physically and mentally too. As well as helping you to keep fit, strong and healthy, it can also help to manage stress and your mood.

In light of the current situation, it’s become particularly important to look after our health. We understand that staying at home and adjusting your fitness routine is not going to be easy, especially if your gym routine was nailed down to a tea. Reminding ourselves of all the positives during challenging and uncertain times can help us put into perspective and prompt us to continue staying active. 

Exercise can help to manage stress and improve mood

Exercising can help to improve your physical health but also your mental health, which is equally important. Working out can help to deplete the body of its stress hormones, which can have a negative impact on your health. Every time you exercise, the body releases mood-enhancing chemicals. These endorphins are often called the happy hormones. Whether you are doing cardiovascular exercise or strength work, your body will produce these endorphins, so it's one way to cope with stress that will help you feel better.

Making exercise a regular lifestyle choice has given me a new. It enabled me to recognise that I was suffering with mental health issues that I then got help to address and do things I never thought I could do like running a marathon.

Abbie Dillon, PureGym member

It can also help to improve brain function

Scientific studies have linked exercise to improved brain function and improvements in learning and memory. Endurance exercise has been shown to release a hormone called irisin, which has an impact on the brain, particularly the part controlling learning.

Stress comes with life and it’s how you decide to deal with the stress that impacts you mentally. Exercising has helped me not only helped me to become physically stronger but more mentally resilient too.

Danny Mulholland
Personal Trainer at PureGym East Kilbride

Staying strong

Exercise strengthens all of the tissues in the body. As well as improving cardiovascular fitness, it builds muscles and connective tissue. It will improve your mobility, while also reducing your chance of injury.

Exercising has helped me to overcome severe social anxiety and build long-lasting confidence in myself.

Stephen Lynch, PureGym member

A better night’s sleep

If you struggle to get to sleep at night, don’t despair because exercise can help with insomnia. If you exercise regularly, you may notice that your quality of sleep improves.

To stay healthy, the NHS recommends adults should try to be active every day and aim to achieve at least 150 minutes of physical activity over a week through a variety of activities.

For tips to help you unwind and destress, check out this blog.

Want to get active but not sure where to start? Check out our free workouts page for ideas on how you can train your body here.

If your mental health is suffering please do not struggle alone. Ask for help and support. For more information go to Mental Health UK