After the rush of December, January can be a difficult month. The festive period has ended – it’s cold and a long wait until payday, with Monday 20th January dubbed as ‘the gloomiest day of the year’ too.

The cheerfulness of the festive season and seeing friends and family have gone and this time of year can be a very isolating period, overshadowed by anxiety, sadness, depression or even bring about severely negative thoughts.

There are many studies that have shown that doing physical activity can improve mental health and here at Mel Bartley Fitness we are all about reducing negativity and promoting wellness. We were recently voted by readers of the Lancashire Post one of the best gymnasiums for mental health. 

Our personal training sessions, bootcamp courses and yoga sessions can do wonders.

Here are just a few of the benefits:

Mood enhancing 

Physical activity releases feel-good hormones that make you feel better in yourself and give you more energy. Very often people will find training or taking part in exercise first thing can set the tone for the rest of the day.

Managing stress

Doing something physical 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, irrational thoughts or periods of anxiety. It’s particularly helpful when you have stressful times in work, relationship struggles or are prepping for an exam of any kind.

Promotes restful sleep

The combination of reducing stress and burning off energy can make you feel naturally tired. Exercise, therefore, promotes sleep, improves the quality of sleep and increases sleep duration. 

Exercising outdoors during the day can also allow your body to absorb natural sunlight which is particularly important at this time of year when it can be dark and gloomy. This also helps to prepare your body for sleep.

Better self-esteem

Being more active can make you feel better about yourself as you improve and meet your goals. People leave Mel Bartley Fitness feeling sweaty but empowered because they’ve completed something tough. It’s not all about the changes being physically fit can make to your appearance but the good it does on the inside too.

Connecting with people 

Doing group or team activities can help you meet new and like-minded people, and make new friends too. Our bootcamp sessions are high-intensity but there’s a true sense of ‘better together’ as people complete the sessions with the support of others in the group.

We’d love to help you start or get back to a fully fit mind. To understand more about our services and the way we can work with you as an individual please drop us a line. Call 07771614509 or email [email protected]