Women's Wellness
Regular activity is proven to protect your health in many ways. It can reduce your risk of major illnesses (and reduce complications of these if you have them), such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer by up to 50% and lower your risk of early death by up to 30%.
Moving more can also:
1. Boost your mental health through confidence building and improved self-esteem. Group activity is also a great opportunity to meet people and have fun.
2. Make you feel better, function better, and sleep better. Even one session of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity reduces anxiety, and even short bouts of physical activity are beneficial.
3. Keep your joints and muscles moving well. If your joints are stiff or sore, gentle movement can give relief and restore their proper use. It also helps to keep your muscles strong. Strong muscles support your body and bones better. When you are stronger, you move and support your weight better so you become less prone to injury.
4. Support your natural pain-relief systems. Your body begins to respond better to painkilling signals when you are active regularly. You also are more likely to get a feel-good boost after an activity when it is part of your body's routine. Staying strong makes you better able to deal with the physical demands of daily life.
5. Help you to regulate your hormones and reduce symptoms of menopause in your middle years and beyond
Evidence also shows that women who are more active have more confidence, higher self-esteem, less anxiety, less stress and better social skills – attributes that can help you deal with the challenges you face in daily life. Positive attitudes towards physical activity have also been associated with being happier.
We know that generally everyone understands that "moving more" could improve their health and wellbeing, many are not confident in knowing what they can do, and how to start – below are some specially selected options that may be right for you!
Health Conditions
In It Together Sessions
In It Together features a whole range of activities for women ages 16+, all of which are led by coaches and instructors who have the same goal; to help break down those barriers that we women face, empower you to move in your own way, remove that self-doubt, and most importantly, to enjoy it!
For more information and to view classes near you, click here.
Women's Wellness 6 week courses
Women's Wellness is a programme designed to support women to become more active and to have a greater understanding of both the physical and mental health benefits that being active can bring. We work with GP surgeries to identify women who would benefit from this support, as well as working with local leisure providers to tailor a 6 week programme of different activities.
For more information, click here.
This Girl Can
This Girl Can is a campaign that aims to reduce that gap and inspire women to be more physically active. Led by Sport England, This Girl Can is the first campaign of its kind to feature women of all shapes, sizes and sporting abilities that sweat and jiggle as they exercise.
For the This Girl Can website, click here.
Activities To Do At Home
It's important that we take care of our physical and mental wellbeing and physical activity is still one of the best ways of doing this. There's plenty you can do at home to keep active - here are some ideas that can get you moving!
For more information, click here.
Walking
Short inclusive walks at home or outside, group Health Walks, walking sports, fun walking challenges, Somerset Photo competition, social walks recommended by you, and Active Befriending Walk and Talk.
For more information, click here.
Health and Wellbeing Service
There are health and wellbeing coaches in each doctor's surgery across the county, please contact them first.
In Bridgwater, North Sedgemoor, West Somerset and Yeovil, SASP health and wellbeing coaches support people with long term conditions to access physical activity in order to promote and protect their health. For more information, click here.
Move More Together
Move More Together is a programme designed to encourage inactive adults over 50 to get moving again through the support of a volunteer who can motivate, guide and of course, provide some friendly conversation!
For more information, click here.
Move More with Bands: Seated Exercises
If seated exercises are easier for you, this resource provides a great introduction to low impact resistance exercise that allows you to work at your own pace, as well as offering ways to make the exercise easier or more difficult.
Move More with Bands: Standing Exercises
Move More with Bands in Standing has been designed to support you to exercise with resistance and improve your strength and balance. It is ideal for beginners or those living with health conditions because it is low impact and covers all the major muscles and joints in the body. All exercises are performed in standing, but a sturdy chair or kitchen worktop can be held for additional support as required.
