5 ways to unwind with Be Well

5 ways to unwind with Be Well

Modern life can be pretty stressful. Whether it’s meeting deadlines at work, juggling family commitments, dealing with personal issues, or all of the above, life can come at you fast and it’s important to make time for self-care. 

Stress can have a big effect our bodies, our mood and our behaviour - often leading us to make poor lifestyle choices such as overeating or drinking too much.  

If you don’t deal with it, stress can also increase your risk of many different health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, obesity and diabetes. 

It’s important to find a way of letting off steam and one of the best ways to do that is through physical activity. 

Looking for some inspiration to shake off stress? Here are five fun ways to unwind with Be Well...

1. Tai Chi

This ancient practice is well known for boosting balance and preventing falls in older adults but there are also many other benefits too such as promoting muscle strength and mobility, relieving pain, encouraging fat loss and, yes, reducing stress. 

Tai Chi helps you relax with gentle movement and breathing techniques, soothing your body and mind, and has been shown to aid sleep - helping you feel well rested and ready to face the day ahead.

2. Nature walks

Few things match the healing power of nature when it comes to reducing your stress levels. Just being outside in the open air, feeling the warmth of the sun on your face, hearing the chirping of the birds and the wind through the trees, can lift the cares of the world from your shoulders. 

Luckily, Wigan is one of the greenest urban boroughs in the whole country and there are so many wonderful green spaces to explore - either on your own, with friends or family, or by joining one of our regular organised walks. 

3. Dance

There are two basic approaches you can take when you want to de-stress. The first is to do something gentle and relaxing (see examples above). The second is to get pumped up and really throw yourself into something. If you’re looking to do the latter, our Latin Dance class is ‘strictly’ good fun and the perfect way to work up a sweat and shimmy away your stress. 

As well as improving your fitness, learning how to samba, rumba and jive will put a smile on your face and fill you with a real sense of achievement. You’ll enjoy the up-tempo beats and rhythms, meet new like-minded people, and be too busy concentrating on your feet to worry much about the outside world!

4. Team sports

Team sports are an amazing way to de-stress; when you step onto the pitch or court, nothing else matters. Strictly speaking, our sports sessions aren’t competitive, with the focus very much on getting active and having a good time… but, let’s face it, that doesn’t mean you don’t want to win! 

Whether it’s badminton, netball, football or the increasingly popular pickleball, playing sport helps you relax, have a laugh and bond with others over a common goal - helping you feel good physically and emotionally. 

5. Cycling

Sure, cycling is a great way to keep physically fit - but don’t sleep on its ability to improve your mental health too. There’s plenty of evidence to show a direct link between endurance exercise and feelings of wellbeing… and what many refer to as the ‘runner’s high’ just as easily relates to the joy of being on a bike.

Stress increases your heart rate and often leads to shallow, fast breathing, meaning your brain doesn’t get as much oxygen. This, in turn, leads to more stress. You could call it a vicious ‘cycle’ (sorry!). Cycling, however, forces you to regulate your breathing and breathe deeper. Our cycling team has regular stress-busting rides all across the borough, and we’re sure you’ll find the combination of fresh air and friendly company will leave you feeling ‘wheely’ good! (Sorry again!!!).

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