Why Should YOU Start Running?

Health

Firstly, and most obviously, it is a really beneficial for our health. Running can (among other things) help to:

·      Reduce Blood pressure

·      Maintain a stable weight (alongside a healthy diet)

·      Tone and strengthen muscles

·      Improve mental health

·      Improve energy levels

Convenience

Once you have purchased your kit (MOST importantly well-fitting trainers and sports bra) then you are good to go! You can do it anywhere with anyone, it is easy and flexible and fits around even the busiest of schedule

Stress Reduction

Running is great for dealing with stress levels. When we are feeling exhausted and overwhelmed by life, it can help us to switch off and refocus our minds. When we run our body release endorphins which are referred to as our happy hormones. The positive effects of a run can stay with us long after the run has ended and can help us to manage stresses and strains in our everyday lives.

Nature

Running gives you the opportunity to be outside and experience the wonder of nature. Many of us spend more time inside than we want or need to and by getting out into the fresh air and watching the seasons change it can expose us to things that we wouldn’t normally see. Modern life can often feel at odds with nature and getting outside and being immersed in it can really help to make us feel centred and calm. At SLJ we make the most of the wonderful trails and countryside that we are so fortunate to live locally to. No run ever feels quite the same.

Relationships

One of the nicest things about being in SLJ is seeing the relationships that develop between members. It really is a community of friendly, supportive and inspiring women who are there for each other. Whether you are new to exercise and need some support, have just moved to a new area and want to meet like-minded people or simply want to get out there and run, it really is about being part of a nurturing network.

What are you waiting for?

The Benefits of Outdoor Exercise

After a beautiful walk last night across the fields, I was able to take a moment and notice how magical it is when you can feel spring in the air and see everything coming to life after the winter. It reminds me of why exercising outside, at any time of the year, is so restorative to mental, as well as physical, health as you really feel like you are engaging with nature at the same time as improving your fitness.

 The benefits of exercising outdoors are many and far-reaching but it may be a while since you exercised, or you may not know where to start. Read on and hopefully you will be inspired to lace up your running shoes and head into nature with SLJ!

 Mood – being outside and exercising are both recognised ways to help improve low mood and anxiety by increasing feel-good endorphins and increasing serotonin levels (often referred to as our ‘happy hormone’) 

Interestingly a studycarried out in 2015 by Stanford University, found that students who walked for just an hour outside every day improved their health by feeling less anxious than those students who did not. There are countless studies and anecdotal evidence to show that people have benefitted from being outdoors and have recorded lower incidences of stress, lower BP and lower cortisol levels (which is one of markers used for measuring stress in the body)

 Vitamin D– We need this essential nutrient to ensure that our bones, teeth and muscles remain healthy. 

 If you live in the UK then you can only absorb Vitamin D through sunlight from the end of March/early April until the end of September. It is important to note that vitamin D can only be absorbed on bare skin, so apply the SPF after the skin has had a decent exposure to the sunlight (around 30 mins) ensuring that you do apply SPF afterwards!

 At SLJ we very much advocate the benefit of group exercise as well as being huge fans of outdoor training and there has been much reported on the positive effects of training in a group. Group exercise helps with motivation, loneliness, compliance and general enjoyment. We are social creatures and sometimes a session in the outdoors with a group of like-minded people can feel like therapy. We come away feeling mentally and physically restored. 

 These are just some of the many reasons why SLJ remains so popular. Sign up for one of our forthcoming courses and, as well as joining a fabulous and inspiring group of women that will help you to reach your exercise goals, you will also be able to download our ’14 days to get you fit’ plan for FREE.

 What are you waiting for?!