This July we wanted to focus on the message that physical activity is for all. Being active is about finding what’s right for you and with an array of opportunities and activities available now, it’s never been easier to feel motivated to move more.
Physical activity has no age limit and the range of movements available for all means you can be 6 or 86 and stay active. Young children are doing some important growing, so team activities and movement is vital for their development; it helps them stay healthy and forms a positive relationship with physical activity, which is hugely beneficial as they later go into adulthood.
Active Essex have been able to facilitate young people getting active in different ways through active travel, school initiatives and Essex ActivAte school holiday clubs that focus on different activities. Active travel for children and families can be a great way to encourage the required daily activity because they’re using travelling time productively. They’re not sitting in a car or on a bus but instead boosting their physical and mental wellbeing by walking, scooting, or cycling their way to lessons! It can even be a way for them to make new friends through forming a travel to school group. Also, it can be relatively free and low cost which demonstrates the wide range of benefits active travel can bring!
Finding time to add more movement into a busy schedule has been made easier by technology! The wide range of videos and guides available online mean people of any age and background can join a class from home. On our Active Essex YouTube site, we have various videos that you can try from home like strength exercises or dance classes which you can take at your own pace!
Physical activity can bring positive change to those with differing levels of activity experience and those who may be living with a long-term health condition. Gentle movements can be high beneficial like walking, gardening, or stretching as they can build strength, balance and resilience which can be essential when living with a long-term health condition. Physical activity brings positivity into our lives by boosting how we feel and how our body feels which can benefit everyone.
The Able Like Mabel campaign powered by the Active Essex brand Find Your Active, is an example of different movements fitting into an older resident’s lifestyle but can also be used by those living with a long-term health condition. Actions such as stretching or squatting while the kettle is boiling is a simple way to build strength but without feeling pressured into joining a class or committing lots of time to activity.
Physical activity can be one of the best choices we make when it comes to lifestyle because the physical and mental benefits can aid us long-term and short-term. The positive hormones and feelings associated with activity can make us feel happy and reduce depression and stress whilst also ensuring we build resilience and strength.
Our Active Essex website has a wide range of resources and videos available: https://www.activeessex.org/
