Give winter the cold shoulder at Virgin Active |
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Is the weather making you weepy? Fed up with the frost? If the looming winter months have you feeling down in the dumps, we’d like to propose a pick-me-up that is sure to perk up your mind - and pert up your body! Come look inside our world-class gym facilities and you’ll see why working out at Virgin Active is more fun. In here, the weather’s always just right!
The feel-good factor associated with exercise has been well-documented. Regular exercise over a period of time can have an accumulative ‘inoculation’ effect, with physical and emotional benefits that may safe-guard you against the (winter) blues. Add to this an exercise environment that is truly inspiring, comfortable and friendly, and you have one less excuse to feel gloomy this winter.
Life’s more fun when you move.
That’s the Virgin Active motto. Moving is what makes us feel alive. Man evolved to be physically active. Our very genetic makeup means that we are pre-disposed
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to move and derive enjoyment from it. Even our emotions are designed to get us moving. The catalyst to resolving bad emotions is movement. One such emotion is tension. Think of tense, nervous people pacing or tapping their fingers to relieve muscles tensed as part of a primitive muscular ‘freeze’ response to danger. When you’re worried or tense, moving can bring relief and make you feel better.
Dodge the obvious mood-enhancers – caffeine, cigarettes, alcohol and shopping; they’ll only leave you feeling worse afterwards. Why not tap into a healthier kind of high that boosts your energy and releases some feel-good endorphins (your body’s natural pain-killers) so you can enjoy an instant lift without the nasty side-effects?
Next time the doom and gloom of the inclement weather threatens to rain on your parade, hit the gym floor for a mind-altering, energy-boosting workout. Here’s what our exercise and wellness experts say about getting the best buzz from your gym membership.
Start your journey, shape your mood.
The best mood-enhancing effect to be had from exercise comes from choosing an activity that makes you feel good. Exercising at the appropriate level, duration and intensity can add to the feel-good factor. Your workouts should be challenging, but always fun. Combine a good workout with a few laughs and you’ll find you have a more positive outlook.
A good cardio workout delivers all the right feel-good effects for some - enhanced mood, more energy and a sense of achievement. A heavy-weight resistance-training session pushes all the right buttons for others.
Group exercise may help you get the feel-good factor, because it allows you to be totally distracted by engaging your body and mind in what’s happening in the class. And because you’re following the gym instructor’s lead, you don’t have to concentrate on shaping your own workout, leaving you free to enjoy the moment.
The sociability aspect of a group exercise class may also bring some cheer, as will working out with a gym partner. The sense of purpose derived from meeting a partner for a workout or attending a specific group exercise class at the same time each week can make you feel good too. No to mention it can also help you stick to your exercise routine.
Active body, happy mind.
The accepted period for a habit to form is 21 days. By making exercise a regular priority over this period of time, you’ll soon experience the accumulative physical and especially psychological benefits. And because you associate the feel-good factor with your exercise habit, you’ll want to carry on doing it.
Though some of the positively reinforcing physical results such as weight loss or better muscle tone may follow only later, the immediate benefits include an overall improvement in mood, a boost in energy levels, and a sense of achievement derived through doing something positive to enhance your health.
Each time you exercise, the feel-good factor acts as a reinforcement, which makes you carry on with the activity. What better way to prepare for the winter months ahead than by creating a pathway to a more active life today?
Fuel your body to feel better.
Running on empty? If you hit the gym floor after a hectic day, fuelled only by the energy drink you had in the car on the way there, you may not be getting the exercise high you’re after. That’s because ‘high-energy’ often translates to ‘high-GI’ (high on the glycaemic index) which means that it causes a sharp spike in blood sugar levels, only to cause a drop shortly thereafter. This is bound to leave you low on mood and energy.
Beware ‘high-energy’ snacks that are high in calories. If you’re aiming to shed a few pounds by exercising, you may be sabotaging your efforts by taking in more calories than you’re burning off. And not achieving your weight-loss goals has little payoff in the mood department.
In order to get the release you want after exercise, you have to be able to deliver during your workout. One way to prepare for your workout is by eating small, balanced meals throughout the day. Read this month’s article on fuelling your body for exercise.
Thanks to Chris Beedie (UK Product Director), Nick Hudson (National Fitness Training and Development Manager) and Nic Theaker (Fitness Manager), all from Virgin Active UK, for supplying the mood-lifting exercise and wellness information in this article.
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