National Fitness Day is celebrated on 23rd September and, as an advocate of getting active to improve mental health, local charity Dorset Mind is excited to announce a new partnership with New Body Fitness Gyms. Based in Bridport and Weymouth, the partners will work together to promote the benefits of fitness for improving mental health and creating a positive mindset.
The gym hopes to raise mental health awareness and vital funds at fundraising events throughout the year, which will help the charity to deliver support to people in west Dorset.
Exercise has been proven to alleviate the symptoms of anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. Evidence shows that just a 15-minute run each day reduces the risk of major depression by 26%. The partnership sits well together, as Dorset Mind actively promote getting active.
The charity provides support based on exercise through their Get Set to Go programme and activity-based groups in Weymouth and Bournemouth that are currently being delivered online.
The owner of New Body Fitness, Nick Bell, talks about the new partnership:
“Being part of a gym or fitness community has a huge benefit in helping people manage difficult times, improve daily structure and offers a positive environment to go to when times are hard. Fitness is developing into not just physical strength but mental strength as well and it’s great to be able to support these changes and offer a service that accommodates everyone.
Dorset Mind are a fantastic charity and I know their services have helped so many people within Dorset. So to become a charity partner and do our bit in raising vital awareness and money towards mental health and the services they offer is a great step forward for us. It will help us to fulfil our aim to provide a health and fitness solution to the local community, which is all inclusive, and leaves people feeling better, looking better and being happier and healthier.“
A recent survey from New Body Fitness found that over 70% of their members trained to help improve their wellbeing along with reducing stress levels. They also found that one of the biggest reasons people start using their clubs is to improve their mental wellbeing. By partnering with Dorset Mind, they aim to bring several wellbeing initiatives and services to the local community, as well as encouraging everyone to improve their physical health and fitness.
Dorset Mind’s Chief Executive, Marianne Storey comments:
“We are pleased to partner with New Body Fitness as it is widely recognised that regular physical activity is associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety across all age groups.
Our partnership comes after a time when the Covid-19 pandemic has brought about a huge strain on everyone’s mental health. ‘Getting Active’ is one of the 5 Ways to Wellbeing, a set of 5 steps that is proven to help people’s wellbeing. We use this model across our services when we support and educate both adults and young people.
A brilliant addition to our bank of charity partners, New Body Fitness offer an inclusive approach to fitness. We’re looking forward to working with their expert team to further our mission to ensure that everyone experiencing a mental health problem in Dorset gets both support and respect.”
Dr Andrew Mayers, Patron for Dorset Mind and Principal Academic at Bournemouth University said:
“I am delighted to see this new partnership with New Body Fitness Gyms. At Dorset Mind, we have shown how exercise can promote good mental health through many of our programmes. We know that maintaining physical fitness will have a positive impact on mental wellbeing. Keeping active enhances our self-esteem and self-worth.”
Dorset Mind offers a range of support across Dorset for adults and young people; and a wealth of information and signposting – please see the charity’s website: https://dorsetmind.uk/help-and-support/
For more information about how New Body Fitness can help you be healthier in fitness and mind, head to their website: http://new-body.co.uk/
