Gym’s re-opened... journey to a boost in mental health again?

Exercise is an integral part of maintaining a healthy life, mentally and physically.

The 2021 lockdown was a time of deep personal reflection for many people in the world, as for the first time in recent history, life in the UK and the world as we knew it was drastically altered.

The gym provides many with a sense and feel of motivation.

The gym is filled with people who are all at different stages of their fitness journey.

With gym’s now re opened, Aaliyah Yasin (A boxing coach) says:

‘With trainees coming back to the gym helped with their self-esteem and just feeling more confident in themselves and believing that they can do what they came to do.’

A lot of the women’s and children’s classes start their classes feeling like they can’t do it but really they can and as the sessions progress, they start realising they can and it’s a lot more positive and I think that original negative thinking came as a result of lockdown.’

Photo by Sushil Ghimire on Unsplash

Being in an environment where everyone is doing the same thing and sharing a like mindedness can be fruitful for many, and with the closure of the gym’s motivation would have been easily lost training independently. A regular gym goer by the name of Benjamin Aghadiuno states that “during lockdown it was difficult with no gym because I’ve always been used to the routine of going and using it as a way of relieving stress.’

Socialising became disallowed and people were not able to even visit their grandparents or close family.

Economically, people lost their jobs even as many people were dying. According to mind.org.uk, ‘More than half of adults (60%) and over two thirds of young people (68%) have said their mental health got worse during lockdown.’

With all that, there were few outlets for people to escape to, and where millions would typically go to the gym to let off steam and maintain their bodies.

The gym’s closing as a part of lockdown would have contributed to the statistics showing that people’s mental health had worsened during this time of a pandemic.

The gym not only helps people improve their physical well-being, but it can also serve as a community for many individuals, where they find company and friendship, or just conversation.

With the gyms closed down since March 2020 and being reopened in April 12th 2021, a large group of people remained disconnected.

The UK has begun the journey to normalcy with 21st of June marking a full re-opening, and as the weather improves, people are starting to feel a lot more optimistic. “Now it’s open again I feel a lot better managing to get back into shape properly again which makes me feel more content with myself.” Benjamin Aghadiuno

Gyms have reopened, and people will be able to have family reunions. It can be expected that UK mental health will receive a positive boost this summer.