Having an active lifestyle is always going to have a positive impact on your mental health and wellbeing. After all, exercise isn’t just about keeping your muscles and joints in top working order, but your mind as well.

Since starting this online hub, we’ve added a lot of mental health services in Cheshire, and one thing that has become apparent is the correlation between wellbeing and exercise. A great deal of the local services on offer through YouinMind.org relates directly to physical health, with groups including yoga classes, Tai Chi, walking football and more!

So what benefits does exercise offer our mental health?

Well firstly, those with mental health concerns are less likely to be physically active. This can be down to substance abuse such as drinking too much alcohol, maintaining a poor diet, and even weight issues due to medication.

These can all have an adverse effect on your mental health and make things worse, so maintaining an active lifestyle can be a great way to counteract these problems.

When you’re keeping yourself fit, you are letting your mind focus on the activity at hand instead of your problems. What could possibly bother you when sat at home is suddenly at the back of your mind as you complete your exercise or sports activity.

You’ll also find exercise a great way to get out and meet new people. There are plenty of sports groups and local teams in Cheshire for those with mental health needs. It can be a blessing to meet people with like-minded mental health concerns and to be able to share that positively by taking part in a health activity like archery or jogging.

What we’re trying to say is that not every mental health service in Cheshire has to be professional support. By getting active, you can use the benefits of exercise to improve your mental health.

You can find a local sports or exercise group via our online hub.