The ACHIEVABLE CHALLENGES of TRAINING
At Scotland All-Strong, everyone is encouraged to train at their own pace and to push themselves at an intensity appropriate for their current fitness levels. Each workout I am impressed by the effort, drive and determination of participants.
Many start in fitness unsure or unaware of their capabilities, both in terms of physical accomplishment and the mental strength required to push themselves consistently, to meet challenges and overcome them, to get through some temporary discomfort in order to achieve a better feeling at a higher level of self-esteem.
Fitness training is one of the more controllable aspects of life, and the experience of going that bit further, reaching goals, overcoming challenges, creating your own energy and consistent improvement become transferable skills, having a positive impact on general outlook, sense of self and other areas of life, including work, family and leisure pursuits.
As fitness and strength are built, so is mental strength and toughness. As the body is exercised, so is the mind, the will and character.
Although these aspects of exercise are almost always overlooked in favour of ‘weight loss’ (should be fat loss), tone, looks, aesthetics, distances, times, reps and weights, although relevant and sometimes very important, they are, for myself at least, all secondary to the mental health benefits.
Add to this the immediate chemical benefit to the brain of endorphins, ‘the feel good chemical,’ and every session is a recipe for improved mood and wellbeing – physical and mental.
True, it can be difficult to turn-up, leave the house or commit to training before or after hard days at work. Counterintuitively, however, training and exerting energy in a structured and meaningful way will ultimately give you more energy and a greater will to do, in all aspects of life.
START, SHOW UP, STAY STRONG – YOU CAN DO IT
Andy
FITNESS TO FEEL BETTER, FITNESS FOR ALL