Things that can help you through the coronavirus… Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow, clean EVERYTHING, physically distance yourself from anyone not living in your home, stay connected to those you love through phone calls or video chats and EXERCISE! 

Exercise is now more important than ever as most of us are restricted to home and have significantly reduced the incremental activity that drops into our day as we move around going to and from work, the supermarket, school pickups and so on.  Restrictions are in place which means you can’t get to your favourite workout location (In House Studio Fitness naturally) so why should you start – or continue – with an exercise program as part of your fight against coronavirus or any other health concerns?

Following are five very good reasons why you should…

1. Supports your immune system

One of the really good things exercise does is to increase blood flow and mobilise white blood cells, one of your body’s main defences against harmful microbes.  If you include a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise into your week you’ll hit the base recommendation.  Can’t reach those numbers – don’t stress as anything is always better than nothing.  Start small and build up as your fitness and strength improves. Studies have found that just 30 minutes of brisk walking increased the circulation of invaluable natural killer cells and other immune system soldiers in the blood.

2. Reduces the risk of chronic illness

A project run by The American College of Sports Medicine’s - “Exercise Is Medicine”  - has documented the many and varied health benefits of exercise.  These include reducing the occurrence of various cancers, reducing the risk of excessive weight gain (with its associated health problems, including diabetes) and improved cardiovascular health (including lower risk of hypertension and stroke). You’ve got nothing to lose except poor health!

3. Improves your mental health

Stress is a known toxin that will compromise your body’s immune system and leave you more vulnerable to poor health.  The good news is that exercise is a brilliant way of combatting stress as it reduces stress hormones such as adrenalin and cortisol.  Exercise stimulates the production of endorphins which are chemicals in the brain that are our body’s natural painkillers and mood improvers!  There are loads of studies showing that regular exercise is linked to improved mental health, as well as reducing the risk or incidence of dementia, reduction in anxiety and depression, enhanced cognitive function and better quality sleep.

4. A chance to focus just on you

Staying at home to work sounds awesome at first.  No travelling in peak hour, pjs or tracksuit pants are the attire du jour and you can jump up from the desk and pop a load of washing on in between emails.  But then you realise you don’t have any time for yourself.  As much as you love the kids and partner, or enjoy the company of your housemates, or even the solitude if you live on your own, what was once good can lose it’s shine  The 24-hour news cycle is full of the horror of the virus, the accompanying job losses, economic doom and the selfishness of those who horde or ignore the direction to isolate.  It can all become very overwhelming.

It is therefore even more important to take time out to focus on your own health and wellbeing.  Taking time to focus just on you will help you feel more in control, less overwhelmed and more positive about getting through the challenges that life in a pandemic will throw at you.   The absolute best thing you can do is to jump into a training session that will help you refocus your attention, get the blood pumping and send those feeling good hormones through you so you feel better both physically and mentally

5. CoronaFit with Cathy Grech to the rescue!

Yes, there are strict restrictions in place but I can still train one of you at a time in the Studio.  I’ve got limited places so if this isn’t an option for you, then you can go online with CoronaFit and I am keeping it fun with loads of variety!  Key to the program are the Live workouts in the Facebook group – if the Live time doesn’t work for you it stays in the daily feed so you can do it later at a time that suits.  Keep checking the page as I also sometimes make announcements about the upcoming workout and what you might need to have on hand.  The equipment needs are easy – at most you may need your own body weight, a kettlebell or some dumbbells, maybe a dice with a pen and some paper.  Too easy!

There are loads of laughs because I’m pretty funny (well I think I am anyway) and I’ll interact with you if I know you are doing the workout with me.  Of course, there is plenty of variety in the workouts because no one wants to do the same thing all the time – and that includes me.  I’ve also got delicious, healthy recipes to keep you inspired in the kitchen and plenty of other random fun stuff.  Even better, there are a bunch of awesome people making up a great community who will make you feel welcome and help you stay motivated!

So what are you waiting for?  Your physical and mental wellbeing demands you start – or keep – exercising.  I’m here to help you so give me a call and together we will get you moving!