10 Days for Mental Health Free Online Course - Day 9

Today we’re going to be concentrating on how physical movement can help our mental health.

Doing some kind of gentle exercise every day helps to release some very important wellbeing chemicals and hormones into our systems which then help to buoy our spirits and start making us feel energised and less stressed.

Walking for Mental Health

Try to get out for a 30 minute walk today – preferably in some kind of nature.

It’s been proven that one half-hour walk a day for people suffering from anxiety and depression can significantly reduce symptoms. This is due to the endorphins that are released during exercise and a good top up of sunlight can help our bodies obtain Vitamin D. This vitamin is extremely important for people who suffer from depression caused by Seasonal Affective Disorder due to lack of sunlight.

If you can’t get out (or if the weather isn’t great), here’s one of our favourite videos from the “Walk at Home” team that you can do in your living room.

If you have mobility issues, try and ask someone to get you out into the fresh air today and try the following series of seated stretching exercises in this clip below. (Even if you don’t have mobility issues, these exercises are great for people who have to work at screens or are seated for long periods of time.)

Yoga for Anxiety

Yoga is a wonderful way of stretching your body and calming the mind due to the use of deep breathing during the practice.

For those of you new to yoga, below we have one the best online yoga teachers in the world who has a beginner video that explains everything clearly so you don’t hurt your body and will leave you feeling happier and calmer. (She is also a super friendly and funny person that makes you feel good just by hearing her voice.) You don’t have to do the whole thing if you don’t feel like it – even if you just do 10 minutes, you’ll feel the benefit.

Walk of Peace

To relax your body and mind after your exercise, we have a soothing ‘Walk of Peace’ meditation for you which will take you on a walk in your imagination to leave you feeling calm and peaceful.

We hope you find some release and peace from bringing in some physical movement to your day. We’ll see you tomorrow for our last day, Day 10!