By looking at mental health in a positive sense we can improve our performance. How do you train your brain to become as mentally healthy as it is possible to be? Rather than focusing on the negative “this is what poor mental health did to me”, let’s take a look at the positive: “my strong mental health allowed me to ….”
James is a true survivor. He has suffered two bouts of cancer in the past 10 years, including one particularly vicious strain that transformed him from a 14 stone, lithe, athletic man into a six stone, emaciated body who couldn’t lift his head from the hospital pillow. The reason for telling James’ story on this forum is because so much of what he says is relatable to us all. Sport and physical activity has not only helped James return to full health but it has boosted his self-confidence and helped him overcome deep depressive moments.
Tennis fitness comprises a number of components. Probably the most important is endurance. Tennis players must be able to perform and stay mentally focused for long periods of time. Like any activity, as soon as a tennis player starts to get physically tired, so the mental process start to deteriorate.
Exercising outdoors has some great benefits – increased energy levels, improved mood and reduced tension. So an outdoors summer workout is a great way to feel great while getting fit.
The first thing you need to ensure for good football fitness is a good endurance base. The average professional player now covers about 10 kilometres in a 90 minute match. That is a combination of sprinting to latch onto a pass, running to get into position or jogging back after an attempt at goal.
For many people who turn to triathlon later in their sporting lives, qualifying as a Great Britain age group triathlete is at the top of their ambitions. But how do you go about qualifying?
The age group triathlon system allows more people to represent their country by splitting the competitive field into five-year age group brackets. This could be 30-34 or it could be 60-64, the age range encompasses just about everyone.
Successfully training for a triathlon is a question of organising your time and listening to your body. It doesn’t need as much time as people may think and the variety in training means you are less likely to pick up injuries than if you were all-out training for one activity.
The beauty of triathlon is that anyone, of any age, can compete. British Triathlon run events for all age groups and, if you find yourself excelling at the sport, there are age categories from 20-24 up to 80+, so you could find yourself in contention for a place on the Great Britain team in your age group.
When you are training and living a healthier life, one of the best ways to keep improving your fitness levels is to set goals. By putting targets out there, you are giving yourself the opportunity to achieve success and that in itself is a powerful motivator.
Free weights are the key to developing strong, stable joints and helping your body move efficiently through the demands of everyday life. They also help prevent a decrease in bone density as you get older.
