Move for Movember- The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise
By: Hive Active
GLOBALLY, ON AVERAGE, 1 MAN DIES BY SUICIDE EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY.
Love them or hate them, it’s that time of year when Moustaches of all shapes and sizes return with a vengeance. This year, prepare to see some fabulous moustaches around Hive Active as we throw our support behind the Movember movement to raise money and awareness for men’s health; specifically mental health, and prostate and testicular cancer.
So why Movember?
Inside Hive Active health is at the core of everything we do, and we’re pretty good at supporting our members, male or female. But with mental health having such an important bearing on our community in 2020, we wanted to be able to help our greater community as well. By participating in Movember, we’re not only helping raise awareness for some pretty big Men’s Health issues, but we also get to do it in a fun and genuine way which rings true for our Hive Active culture.
Did you know that
GLOBALLY, ON AVERAGE, 1 MAN DIES BY SUICIDE EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY.
1 IN 6 AUSTRALIAN MEN WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH PROSTATE CANCER IN THEIR LIFETIME.
TESTICULAR CANCER STRIKES YOUNG. IT’S THE MOST COMMON CANCER IN YOUNG AUSTRALIAN MEN.
Move for Movember
Mental health is extremely complex, but there are a number of things we know that can be helpful. One of them is exercise (this is where we come in ). Exercise plays an important part in health and well-being; not just to keep your body fit, but also for the mental and social benefits it brings.
When it comes to mental health, even one workout a week can make a difference. So how exactly does exercise help us to feel good? Exercise pumps blood to the brain which can improve your focus and help you perform better throughout the day. It also releases powerful feel-good chemicals like serotonin and endorphins. Studies have consistently shown that exercise releases tension and stress, improves self-esteem and confidence, and enhances your overall wellbeing. All of these reasons make exercise an excellent coping strategy when the going gets a little tough. Numerous studies have also shown that exercise can help in the prevention of, and recovery from, depression and anxiety. An example is a recent study by Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, which found that running for 15 minutes a day or walking for an hour reduces the risk of major depression by 26%. A Psychomatic Medicine study in 2007 by James Blumenthal, PhD, also found that exercise was generally comparable to antidepressants for patients with a major depressive disorder.
Move for Movember is one of the initiatives that is being held as part of the month-long awareness program for mental health. It’s about choosing an exercise goal and then achieving it. It can be a personal or team goal – big or small. As long as you’re getting out there and tapping into those feel-good exercise hormones, then you’re making a difference.
Anyone for a Mo-rathon?
As part of Move for Movember, we’re holding a Mo-rathon at Hive Active. Members can choose to complete a bike/row/ski erg marathon either as an individual or by divvying it amongst a team and sharing in the mo-ment. It can be conducted in one session or over the period of a week so that all levels of fitness can participate. As long as you get your Move on then that’s all that matters.
Ready, set, Mo!
The hardest part can sometimes be getting started, especially if you or someone you know is experiencing mental health concerns. We recommend starting small, finding what works for you, developing a routine, and rewarding yourself (in a healthy way) for any wins no matter the size. Just getting your runners on and taking that first step (literally) by walking out the door can be an absolute win.
We find it’s often easier to get started when you have someone to exercise with; whether that’s with a friend, a personal trainer or a group of people that can encourage, support and give your that extra nudge you need to get your butt into gear.
It’s why we place so much importance on community spirit whilst training at Hive Active. With the support of people around you, it makes it iso much easier to achieve your training goals.
To help you get started, we’re offering a free 1-week unlimited trial of our group training classes. Come in and meet our team; get to know our coaches and your future training partners, and try as little or as many classes as you like.
During November, in addition to the one-week’s free trial, Hive Active is also donating the first week’s membership fee to Movember for every new adult signed up. It’s the perfect time to start moving. Not only are you looking after yourself, you’ll be supporting men’s health.
Please reach out to our friendly team if you have any questions at all- https://www.hiveactive.com.au/contact/ Movember is the leading charity changing the face of Men's Health. The money raised help fund groundbreaking health projects across mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer – 1,250 projects so far. The organisation has made a huge impact to date and they're keen to make it even bigger. https://au.movember.com/