Different Forms of Therapy: Exercise and Gym Memberships

Following on from January’s post about different types of therapy, in this post we will take a closer look at exercise. When administering the Oxley Parker School Therapy Fund, we were able to organise gym memberships and personal training sessions for our clients.

Although many people are aware of the physical benefits of exercise such as improving strength, aiding weight management and keeping our hearts healthy, there are mental benefits to regular exercise too. Mental benefits can include experiencing better moods due to endorphins (a type of hormone) that are released when exercising. Exercise can also help people relax and sleep better as we are more tired at the end of the day. It also helps build self-confidence and self-esteem.

A gym membership is a great way to get exercise – especially in the winter months as you don’t have to worry about weather conditions affecting your workout! Joining a gym can also be a good way of meeting new people and socialising.

Personally, something I find daunting when starting at a new gym is working out how to use all the different types of exercise machines. This is why hiring a personal trainer is a good idea as they can show you which machines are going to benefit you the most and how to use them safely. They will also help you create a tailored exercise plan and will motivate you to meet your health needs and goals.

Another bonus of a gym membership is that you get access to classes organised at the gym such as Yoga. I have practised Yoga for many years and could not function without it. The physical benefits include increased strength and flexibility while the mental benefits include relaxation and stress reduction.

Let us know in the comments if you use exercise as a form of therapy and how it helps you or email me sophie@andrewgroveandco.com so we can include your comments in our blog.