I joined a new gym in my local area in November 2022. At the time I’d been struggling with anxiety and depression for over five years and had found it hard to motivate myself to exercise – going for a run in the rain felt impossible!
The gym was daunting at first, I’d never done anything like it before and I thought that everyone would be fitter than I was. I was going to the classes alone and I was pleasantly surprised by how welcoming and friendly the atmosphere was. I quickly realised that people are there for similar reasons - to have fun and stay active - especially through the winter months.
Through the classes I've got to know people I might not have met otherwise – there are people of all ages and from all kinds of backgrounds. It became one of the things I looked forward to most throughout the week, and the friends I’ve made through the gym have been so helpful in keeping me motivated to stick at it. It's helped me build confidence, and it feels great to learn new skills.
I've really enjoyed lifting weights, especially as it's not something I was encouraged to do as a young woman. It feels really empowering and it's a good way to let go of stress - you have to concentrate on the task at hand and just go for it.
It's that mindset that has helped me on days where I'm feeling down or anxious, and having the support of the community is really motivating. It’s also inspired me to try out, or try again, other activities like hillwalking and wild swimming.
I think it's just about having an open mind, finding the type of exercise that you enjoy and people that make it fun to do it with.
I've noticed the change in my mental health - it doesn't fix everything, but helps me feel more positive because I'm taking time to do something for myself.
