MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK – THE BENEFITS OF SPORT

Mental health can affect us all from time to time but for some it’s a daily occurrence and can become overwhelming. Fortunately, there are ways to help subside the negative connotations and as a gymnastics club, we feel exercise plays a pivotal role in this.

For Mental Health Awareness Week, we’ve shared five tips on how participating in sport can calm your worries and clear your mind.

Relieves Tension

Taking part in sport can relax blood vessels, reduce heart rate and lower blood pressure. As well as having positive effects on your physical wellbeing, this will also result in a more relaxed mental wellbeing.

If you’re not feeling a work out, no worries. Meditating, stretching or even taking time out to breathe deeply for a few minutes a day can take away the tension.

Produces Endorphins

Any form of exercise will stimulate the body to produce chemicals called endorphins. These are released into the brain and give a feel-good sensation known as a “runners high”.

Aerobic work outs are the best for generating this natural pain killer – the more upbeat the work out, the better the feeling!

Increases Self-esteem

Whether part of a team or focused independently, you can improve self-esteem by working towards a goal. Whatever you achieve, from completing your first push up to winning a competition, can give you that feel good factor and encourages further goal breaking.

Start off by setting mini achievable targets and as you grow with confidence push yourself to break bigger barriers, both in sport and in life.

Improves sleep and creates better habits

We’re all guilty of not getting our 8 hours but this can lead to anxiety and sleep deprivation. This has knock on effects to everyday life as sleep is linked to your sense of well-being – the less you get, the worse you feel.

A regular exercise routine will push you to adopt healthier habits and encourages your body to yearn things that are good for it such as sleep, good food and water. As you overcome these healthy changes your body’s overall fitness continues to improve and becomes more effective at handling stress levels.

Socialising 

We’re better connected than ever but more and more of us are feeling lonely which can lead to depression. Socialising in an environment you feel comfortable in relieves stress by releasing a hormone called oxytocin which promotes relaxation.

Joining a team or club and surrounding yourself with people who have similar interests gives you the opportunity to make new friends. Even if it’s in a non-competitive setting, involvement has been associated with social acceptance which can be further nurtured though support from coaches and team members.

Uckfield Floor & Vault Competition 2019

After a term of training focusing on routines and vaulting, Worthing Gymnastics Club took a squad of 27 gymnasts to the Uckfield Intermediate & Novice Floor & Vault Competition for the the first competition of the year.

Round 2

WGC’s day opened in Round 2 with zippy Zoe Gallagher just missing out on the medals with a 5thplace rosette in the 2009 novice girls.

Round 3 

Next came Round 3 and a flurry of medals from the boys and girls of Worthing. 

Max Reeves revelled in glory while his teammate Benjamin Corbhad the crowd saying “Cor-blimey!” in the 2011-2012 novice boys which saw Max pick up a glorious gold and Benjamin bounce to a booming bronze. 

They were swiftly followed by two more medals in the 2008 novice boys with heroic Harvey Lloyd gaining gold and Hugo stupendous Szaniawski with a sizzling silver. 

In the 2005-2006 novice girls, Jessie triumphant Titmarsh and Caitlin whizzy Whittington put in stellar performances and marginally missed out on the medals with 4thand 5thplace spots. It was much of the same for Milly Grim who put in a far from grim performance coming 4thin the 2008 novice girls. 

The 2007 novice girls saw four of our gymnasts competing and encouraging one another to reach the top three spots which Charlotte Moore put in a Moore than good performance finishing the day in second place. Her teammates close and took home some brilliant experience with the amazing Amelie Crutlow in 4th, Holly macaroni Richards in 6thand the astounding Aeryn Robertson in 7th– great work girls! 

Back to the boys in round three and to some of our youngsters who made it look like they’ve been on the scene for years! Ollie Patrick took home the gold and Leyton Jones joined him by bagging silver in the 2012 novice 4-hour boys. 

Two more of our boys found themselves amongst the medals with jazzy Jasper Andrews earning a solid silver and Samuel Parfoot on par for the bronze in the novice 2009-2010 boys. 

Round 4

If the start of the day was anything to go by then we were in store for a smashing afternoon…and it started superbly in the 2010-2011 intermediate boys with Angus Rolfe rolling to the top of the podium with gold. 

Zita Ridgett was far from rigid in the 2009 intermediate girls and also found herself at the top of the podium while her teammate Ruby marvellous Miles earned an 8thplace rosette in a closely competed group. 

The medals continued to fly in during round four with a valiant effort from Théodore Valantin who secured silver in the 2009 intermediate 4-hour boys and Charlie Kriel absolutely Kreiling it with gold in the 2009 intermediate 2-hour boys. 

Then, in the 2008 intermediate girls, Isabelle Rodgers replied “Rodger” to head coach Heather after asking her to bring back bronze and saw herself pickup 3rdspot.

Round 5

The final round of the day saw even more medals! 

Thomas Beddoe put the opposition to bed with a far from sleepy performance and gained gold in the 2006-2008 intermediate boys but that said, Jamie Miles wasn’t miles behind and earned a brilliant bronze.

In the final group of the day three Worthing gymnasts were seen up against each other in the 2007-2008 intermediate boys. Nayan Ransley ran away with gold, Oscar Chandler battled his way to bronze and Edward Nealon nearly got amongst the medals in 5th

What a day for WGC! Thanks to all the gymnasts, coaches and parents – your combined efforts helped us have an unbelievable day. Aside from the medals, all the gymnasts have taken away some excellent experience and gained some worthwhile confidence.

Thanks to Uckfield Gymnastics Club for putting on the event and having us!