A Gym with a Focus on Well-being

A gym that focuses on the well-being of body and mind was awarded a lottery grant of 14,000 GBP for the development of its work. The gym was founded two years ago by a psychotherapist and fitness teacher, and a personal trainer and trauma-informed trainer. It offers combined strength training and psychotherapy, and potential customers can refer themselves or be referred to social care by employees and GPS.

The Concept Behind the Gym

The gym is there to help people train, to know what to do and where, and with whom. Everyone knows the advantages of movement for mental health, but the question for many is “how do they do it”. The gym’s approach is to provide a safe and supportive environment for people to start their journey towards better mental health.

Movement for Mental Health Program

The 12-lesson online Movement for Mental Health program focuses on six basic movements that are intended to promote mental health. The program’s slogan is “movement for mental health”, and it aims to help people understand how to start training, what to do, and with whom. The program is designed to be accessible to everyone, regardless of their fitness level or mental health status.

Getting Started

For someone who has to deal with mental illnesses or poor mental health, getting started with exercise can be daunting. However, the gym’s founders believe that it’s not necessary to have a lot of space or special equipment to get started. As long as you have a few meters of square or a garden or a room, you can move. People can try simple exercises like squats by sitting on a chair and getting up again or going for a walk in their garden 10 times.

A Private Space

The gym’s approach emphasizes the importance of having a private space to exercise, where people can feel comfortable and relaxed. No special clothes are needed, and anything that brings a little demand on your body is a good start. This approach has helped many people, including those who were previously nervous about going to a gym.

Personal Experience

One user of the gym, Imogen, was always nervous to go to a gym because she thought it was “full of people who were super fit and super strong, and I was not one of these people.” However, her nerves soon evaporated, and she found that exercising at the gym helped her with low moods and depression. She felt a sense of relief and calmness after exercising, and she only felt calmer and more comfortable.