Relax while being active

There are plenty of calming activities you can do within the comfort of your home. You could also join a group class, either in person or virtually. Some people find activities like yoga and Pilates calming and centring, even at levels they sometimes find challenging. Heraldo found his Pilates classes could sometimes stretch muscles he didn’t even realise he had!

These sorts of activities can be done at a variety of levels, including at a very low intensity helping you to gradually build up. And they can have the added benefit of helping you build up strength and improve balance and coordination. If you want give this a go, try out one of the low intensity videos in our list of resources.

If you want to get out of the house to get some activity into your day, there are other ways you can move that you might find relax you and help clear your head. Some people, including Ian, find activities like cycling can help lift their spirits and improve their focus. Ian uses an electric bike which allows him to take his cycle ride at his own pace. And Phoebe loves to go exploring with her dog Noodle, taking the opportunity to both move more and get closer to nature.

Sometimes, being active can provide the opportunity to unwind. Moving doesn’t have to be high intensity to count! A walk to the shops or a trip to the park can provide the chance to get outdoors for a short while, plus gives you the chance to top up your Vitamin D. You can track the walking you already do with the Active 10 app, which is linked to in the relevant resources section.