Health and Wellbeing

Why boxing is good for mental health sufferers

~ Vickyw

Rio boxing good for mental health

Did you know Boxing is good for mental health sufferers?

As a mental health sufferer, I used to punch concrete walls as a way of letting off steam, now I find boxing helps to relieve some of that negative energy.

Recently, ex-footballer Rio Ferdinand announced his decision to box professionally at the age of 38.

Like many other sportsmen such as ex-footballer Leon Mc Kenzie and ex England cricket captain, Freddy Flintoff, boxing helps to release some of those inner demons within mental health sufferers.

It’s not just men taking up boxing, it’s becoming more popular with women as well.

I once went to a boxercise class and I loved it.

I now do HIIT sessions twice a week and the classes always include lots of running and boxing.

Boxing with my trainer is my favourite exercise and I’m always encouraged to hit harder.

It’s great to be able to get all of that negative energy and thoughts into several punches as you hit the boxing pads.

According to an article in the Telegraph, Boxing burns more calories than any other sport, with a whopping 800 calories burning away per hour.

Fitness benefits include:
By taking up boxing you can burn as much as 500 calories a session as well as increasing your muscle tone, Building Strong Bones and Ligaments, increasing your
Cardiovascular, muscle endurance, core stability, and improving your upper body strength.

Boxing is a great way to keep fit
An article on the Netdoctor says that assistant psychologist Felicity Gibbons from London recently started boxing classes to help those who suffer from depression and anxiety.

Here, she shares her motivating story:

“Boxing is making me more confident and providing a space to de-stress.

It has made me much fitter and healthier generally. I’m now motivated to go running to maintain my fitness, I am stronger and more toned, it has improved my sleep and made me more conscious of eating healthily and taking care of my body.

Let us know what helps your mental health in the comments below or join in the discussions on our social media channels.

• Therapy
• Mental health
• Prince Harry
• Mindfulness
• Health
• Exercise
• Fitness
• Family
• Rio Ferdinand
• Floyd Mayweather
• Depression

Eco Retreat Spa eyebrow tidy up

~ Vickyw

 

 

 

Eco Retreat SpaI went to the Eco Retreat Spa for an eyebrow tidy up in time for a family gathering in Old Windsor.

When it comes to eyebrows, my dark brows always end up thick and bushy and don’t take long to grow back.

I hate plucking them myself because I either take off too much or not enough and we ladies and even men, know how painful plucking can be.

Waxing eyebrows is another option, but the wax isn’t cheap, and I decided to go for it and have an eyebrow treatment which saved my time.

I wanted to look good for my Grandads 90th birthday celebrations and in the photos.

The spa is located in the heart of Cornwall’s eco 5* luxury resort Una St Ives, offering an infinity pool with wall to ceiling views over gardens, jacuzzi, steam room, and sauna.

There is also an onsite restaurant that is open seven days a week, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks.

A couple of weeks ago I decided to treat myself to an eyebrow tidy up at the Eco Retreat Spa in Carbis Bay.

Recently I have been attending HIIT classes and going for a swim twice a week at the Una Resort in Carbis bay.

I was given a leaflet by my fitness instructor Matt and noticed that the Retreat inside the building was taking bookings for eyebrow tidy ups for £10.

After my swim, I went into the Retreat room and booked my appointment with the lady in reception.

My appointment was on Thursday before going away on Sunday. The Eco Retreat Spa is a 10-15 minute walk away from my home, luckily for me, the weather was warm and sunny.

I waited for about 10 minutes before the lady came out to do my eyebrows.

I was asked to take a seat, in the lively seating area which was bright and airy with a water butt, cups and leaflets, and magazines scattered around the seating area.

I was waiting for just a few minutes before a lady called Jody arrived and led me into the treatment room.

The treatment rooms are relaxing with burgundy walls, wooden floors, with a bed in the middle.

Jody asked me to lie on the bed and she tidied my eyebrows both by waxing them and then plucking them.

This took around 15 minutes and is much less painful than when I attempt to do them myself.

I will definitely be going again for an eyebrow treatment and I can recommend it for those of you who would like a quick tidy up.

I will also treat myself to another treatment around Christmas or New Year because I live just a stone’s throw away from there.

If you would like to check out treatments at the Eco Retreat Spa you can take a look at their website.

The spa is open on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, however other appointments may be available on request.

 

Exercise helps to stabilise my moods

~ Vickyw

stabilise moods exercise chart

I’ve finally found a release as exercise helps to stabilise my moods.

I’m a 30 something-year-old suffering from an undiagnosed mood disorder.

I’ve experienced years of counselling sessions that never really helped but I think I finally might have found a release to help stabilise my moods.

I’ve found a leisure centre just a 10-minute walk from my home, and the best news is that it’s not too busy and full of familiar faces as most of the people I know go to the mainstream leisure centres.

I have joined a quiet leisure centre in the village I live in, and I participate in (High-Intensity Interval) HIIT classes which are on twice a week, and I try to fit in a swim after each session.

The classes are a little more expensive than the main leisure centres.

However, they are much quieter, and I’m very weight conscious at the moment.

It’s been almost three years since I have done any high-intensity exercise and that was Shaun Ts Insanity Workouts. Maybe I will try Shaun Ts Max 30 Interval, classes.

I’m finding half-hour sessions a little bit difficult.

However, I’m determined to get fitter and lose weight, and it’s still early days.

My back injury has stopped me from doing the things that I love, but this isn’t going to stop me anymore.

I even went for a little run with my sister last week and was a little bit annoyed and disappointed at how unfit I was in comparison to a few years ago when I could run up and down Carbis Bay beach hills with little effort.

I was also a little happy because I never thought I would go to an exercise class or ever run again after being out of the game due to unsuccessful back treatments.

I have felt a few minor cramps in my back and the occasional hot and cold sweats, but if the pain gets bad, my doctor has told me to take medication.

I’m tempted to try acupuncture because physio didn’t work and the spinal block never made any difference to the pain.

A year ago, I wouldn’t have left the house by myself, let alone attend exercise classes.

If I’m feeling a little bit stiff after class, I like to do a few laps in the pool and then sit in the Jacuzzi for 10 minutes.

I find that I ache less if I do this, however, sometimes I’m so busy I can only fit in my exercise class.

I’m also going to start running again now that it’s summer and the nights are lighter for longer.

I’m not sure how much weight if any that I’ve lost because I hate scales and weighing myself.

The dreaded weigh-in is another phobia that I have to try and overcome. Maybe one day.

Let me know if you find exercise helps to stabilise your moods or maybe something completely different?

Comment below and feel free to join in the discussions on our social media pages.