I heard an article on the radio this morning about how little mental health help and exercise prisoners get. I can well believe this, and it will, no doubt, be detrimental for them.
I don’t believe patients in the majority of psychiatric hospitals get enough access to the gym, yoga classes or other forms of exercise.
I used to go to the gym several times a week and really enjoy working out. At one point, when I was a healthy weight, I could calf press four times my own body weight and would go 15-20 miles on the spin bike each gym session.
Naturally with my weight loss I also lost the ability to do that much, I can feel my arms and legs are much weaker than they were.
I can’t lift things around the house like I used to.
But recently I’ve tried getting back into exercise, even though I tire easily and motivation is hard to summon up. Even a little exercise is better than none, right?
Months ago I bought a punch bag and boxing gloves, and I find using the bag is a good way to channel urges of self harm.
I’ve also been trying to do more yoga and meditation.
All of this is minuscule in comparison to what I used to do, but I think it helps me.
There are obviously days where I don’t do exercise and just moving from my bed is difficult enough, but on better days boxing is fun and a good way to channel negative thoughts.
Yoga and meditation brings some quietness to my brain. Some days my brain is so overloaded I can’t focus on anything positive, but meditation can offer a peaceful time, even if it only lasts five minutes.
‘Do you not know that your bodies are temples’ - 1 Corinthians 6
‘Enjoy your body, use it every way you can’ - Baz Luhrmann
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