Is it Your Miracle Cure?
Becca CLAYTON
CEO & Founder at Tonic Wellbeing | Performance, Growth & Wellbeing: Empowering individuals and organisations to thrive through holistic wellbeing, resilience, and positive culture change.
As a lifelong fitness and wellbeing ambassador, yes of course I am thrilled that we are all talking about physical activity more; but perhaps many of us are still just talking about it (and not doing it)!
As we wrote and researched content for this months well@work app topic - Physical Activity; the government announced their 'Better Health' campaign! So, we have all become more aware that being physically active is vitally beneficial to our mental and physical health during the Coronavirus outbreak, yet has anything really changed?
Harsh perhaps, but true! When we read the stats on obesity levels, waist circumferences; blood pressure readings and the increase in metabolic syndrome, things need to change!
Powerful quote ALERT:
“If physical activity were a drug, we would refer to it as a miracle cure, due to the great many illnesses it can prevent and help treat.”
It is a no brainer, but if you are struggling to make it a lifestyle habit then here are a few pointers. Thinking back to my personal training days, there were a few absolutes that I always embedded into the behaviour change and lifestyle programmes I delivered. In my blueprint I included these five steps:
- To start, making Goals EASY
- Choosing activities that you ENJOY
- Doing it REGULARLY
- PRIORITISING it
- Keep TRACKING it
This way you have the best chance of making exercise a LIFESTYLE habit!
If you do need more convincing, or more help, please contact the Tonic team. In September we are offering our well@work app for just ￡10 per employee per month. Our online health portal provides access to personalised data, a virtual health check, trending results and coaching options. It also provides a huge library of healthy living information and insights in our wellbeing hub; plus monthly self-scoring capabilities to help you measure and track your progress!
We can be by your side #makingyourlifebetter
Activity & Lockdown
For me, certainly during lockdown (although I have lots of resistance kit at home) I have invested three sessions a week, every single week on Pilates. It has ticked so many boxes for me. My balance and flexibility are two key ones but also I have given myself permission to take time out; time to focus on my breathing, time to disconnect from everything else, time away from my screen / workstation; and have more time to focus on being positive! Re-connecting my body and mind; all whilst reducing my stress levels.
If any activity intervention is to become a lifestyle choice then it really needs to be something you enjoy!
The non-physical benefits of Pilates often get overlooked because of the traditional focus on Pilates for back health and core strength. However, Pilates is brilliant for stress reduction and relaxation, changing the levels of chemicals in the brain (serotonin, cortisol and endorphins), providing a distraction from negative thoughts, releasing stress, enhancing mindfulness and helping to create a self-care routine!
If you are interested in finding out more about bringing Pilates into your home and / or workplace to experience these amazing benefits too then we have some great news.... We are thrilled to soon be able to offer you sessions with our fabulous instructor Marie.
Wellbeing Workshops
Our workshops are available in six engaging topics:
- Physical Activity
- Mental health Awareness
- Stress Management
- Sleep & Relaxation
- Nutrition
- Resilience
We are in the process of bringing all of our wellbeing workshops online to well@work app subscribers. To be the first to hear about the launch simply send us an email us at: [email protected]
We think our Physical Activity Workshop is a great place to start #movemore #sitless