Mental Health May: 6 ways clubs can help members sweat away stress | Fitness News | Les Mills Asia Pacific
In a world where stress, uncertainty and change are more prevalent than ever, supporting members’ mental wellness has become imperative for Clubs. So how can operators join the dots and demonstrate the substantial mental health benefits their offerings bring, in addition to the well-established physical impact?
For many countries around the world, May represents mental health awareness month. The goal is to raise awareness of the challenges people face with their mental health, as well as to promote positive solutions – an area where clubs and fitness facilities have an important role to play.
Clubs have long been hailed for the physical health benefits they bring to communities, and are increasingly shown to be a key pillar for supporting mental health as well. There are numerous studies demonstrating how general exercise supports good mental health, and this has become particularly significant since the outbreak of COVID-19, which has had a devastating impact on mental health across the globe.
According to the American Psychological Association’s March 2021 Stress in America study, the COVID pandemic has sent stress levels soaring, with 31 per cent of Americans reporting their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic. Meanwhile, a host of other studies around the world have found that people were experiencing high symptoms of stress, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder since the outbreak of the pandemic.
With much of the world having spent the last year in isolation, people are seeking connections on a personal level and community, particularly when it comes to fitness. By offering engaging social exercise experiences, clubs have the opportunity to become the backbone of communities, assuming the role previously filled by pubs and places of worship – whose numbers continue to dwindle. In addition to the societal impact, there’s also a clear business for tailoring services towards promoting positive mental health – a recent Global Wellness Institute (GWI) report found that the fast-growing global mental wellness economy is now worth $121bn.
“There is huge potential for fitness facilities to reach beyond their current catchment and bring tangible impacts for large sections of the population facing health issues that wouldn’t have traditionally incorporated exercise as part of the solution,” says Bryce Hastings, Head of Research at Les Mills.
As we know, regular exercise offers so much more than building strong lean muscles and a healthy heart – it also brings a wealth of “above-the-neck” benefits. Exercise has been linked to everything from boosting brain power and helping control addiction, to inspiring creativity and reducing stress. So how do you promote these messages to your Club’s audience and join the dots between physical exercise and mental wellbeing? Here are six top tips to share with your members to help them get the most mental benefit from their workouts:
Scientists exploring how exercise eases negativity recommend four aerobic exercise sessions a week to reap significant psychological benefits, such as reduced depression and feelings of hostility. And don’t worry if high-energy aerobic training isn’t your thing – low-impact aerobic activity such as walking is also known to lower stress and anxiety levels.
Adding as little as a 20-minute moderate-intensity aerobic session to your morning routine is shown to provide an immediate mood boost. Not only will it quickly spark an endorphin high, but the positive effects can last up to 12 hours. And it’s not just cardio exercise that brings joy. After evaluating 23 published studies, researchers established all manner of exercise is consistently linked to happiness. They found that as little as 10 minutes of physical exercise per week, can result in increased levels of happiness. Those who accumulated at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days, were 30 per cent more likely to report being ‘happy’, than those who didn’t get their fitness fix. And the mood-enhancing benefits are long-lasting – they can still be in your system for weeks following your exercise!
#3 Workout with others
Researchers identified that some types of exercise are superior when it comes to providing mental health benefits. Team sports seem to be the winner, followed by cycle-based exercise, and then aerobics-based workouts at the gym. These top three suggest that, when it comes to mental health benefits, group-based activities are preferable. This is backed up by a 12-week study showing those who did group workouts (in this case LES MILLS CORE™) scored significantly higher in terms of stress-reduction and physical, mental, and emotional quality of life, compared to those people who worked out alone. And a 2019 study revealed that exercisers experience increased levels of individual enjoyment, exertion and satisfaction, as a result of group exercise. You can read more about how working out with others works wonders here.
#4 Do yoga – and do it in the evening
Yoga-based exercise is highly regarded as a great mood booster, and a recent study indicates that yoga, specifically the mindful breathing associated with it, can be used to ease the symptoms of depression. If you want to maximise the bliss-inducing benefits of yoga, experts recommend you do it in the evening. A recent study reveals an evening stretching and meditation session can have a significant impact on your sleep quality, boost positive feelings, and enhance recovery from mental as well as physical stress. Best of all, the benefits kick in fast. The study participants completed a 20 to 30-minute sequence of stretches and 10-minute meditation (based on the BODYBALANCE® yoga program) three evenings a week for just two weeks. After just six short sessions, those who did the evening yoga reported considerable changes across every variable – improved HRV, sleep quality, confidence, motivation, and reduced anxiety, tension, and sadness.
Many scientists believe lifting weights can have a similar effect to antidepressant medications or psychotherapy; and you don’t need to lift heavy. A recent analysis shows the mental health benefits kick in, regardless of whether you’re pushing massive chunks of iron overhead or lifting the lightest weights in the gym. These findings suggest it’s not about the strength you build, but the feeling of accomplishment and confidence that goes hand-in-hand with resistance training. And it’s not just depressive symptoms affected, as another study shows weightlifting can alleviate symptoms of anxiety too. If you’re not sure where to start, experts recommend you try resistance exercises like squats, lunges and planks, as these exercises all strengthen the core and promote improved posture – and better posture is linked to a better mood.
Neurobiological studies suggest mindfulness practices can affect the plasticity of brain structure and functioning. When this happens, the main neurocognitive mechanisms affected include emotional regulation, self-awareness, and attention control. Research indicates mindfulness meditation encourages our minds to operate less reactively, helping us to function more seamlessly when emotions are activated. Interestingly, studies show those who partake in this type of meditation have greater compassion – for others and themselves.
According to Dr Jacob Meyer – an expert in exercise for the treatment of mental health conditions – mindfulness and meditation practices bring another perk to the table. “Mindfulness can foster a more accurate perception of your level of physical activity,” he says, and this can lead you to make better choices for both your physical and mental health. You can read more about the power of mindfulness and muscle here.
Lastly, be aware of what’s happening inside. When we exercise, our body releases a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) that improves the health of our brain cells. As neuroscientist Maurice Curtis explains, “The general principle at play is that when you exercise, you’re much more likely to cause the brain to make new brain cells.” And that’s a good thing. “The brain is the only organ you can’t overtax, and you’re not going to have a meltdown if you start challenging your grey matter by introducing new ways of moving.” If you just do the same thing every day, you’ll probably get good at that, but there will be aspects of life you’re just not experiencing, so keep exercising and keep up the variety.