I need help now
Do you need to speak to someone about your emotional wellbeing?
Keeping active is important for both your body and your mind.
There’s a type of exercise for everyone, from playing rugby, practising yoga to trying to walk to school or work every day. If you find an activity you love, it shouldn’t feel boring!
Some people like to exercise alone and others like to exercise with other people. Either is great, it just depends on what you enjoy doing.
Everything counts – even getting off the bus a few stops early will help get you moving.
There may be medical reasons for you to be cautious or worried about starting to exercise.
We suggest that you always speak with your doctor or someone you trust before starting a new exercise programme or increasing your activity.
Why is keeping active important?
- It helps you stay fit and healthy
- It can be fun – it’s all about finding what works for you!
- It releases endorphins and helps you feel good during and after exercise
- It’s a chance to learn something new and make new friends
Staying physically healthy also helps your emotional wellbeing.
It’s recommended that we all take at least half an hour of exercise every day.
For more information about guidelines for young people, go to the NHS website.
How can I be more active?
There are lots of activities you do every day that can be swapped for more active options:
- Try skating, cycling or riding a scooter instead of driving or getting the bus
- Go for a walk in the park with a friend instead of having lunch inside
- Try a walk, bike ride or yoga to relax instead of playing video games
- Get outside with your family and friends instead of a boring weekend at home
There’s lots of different types of exercise to try. It’s all about what works for you. Have you tried…:
- Walking
- Swimming
- Jogging
- Ice skating
- Skipping
- Dancing
- Yoga
What if I don’t like exercising?
Keeping active is important for both your body and your mind, but it can be hard to get started if you’ve never done it before. We’ve tried to answer some common questions or fears about exercises to try and help you get moving.
If you feel unfit, now is the perfect time to make a change in your life. Everything counts – so try a gentle activity like walking or yoga first.
As you gain confidence, you can start trying new things or doing them for longer. You’ll soon see progress!
Have you ever tried exercising at home? You can jump straight in the shower when you’re done.
Or you could try a gentle activity like walking or yoga so you’re less likely to sweat as much
There are lots of home work outs you could start with to build your confidence, such as Joe Wicks.
You could try a beginner’s sports team or a friendly competition where everyone is learning together. As well as trying something new you might make some new friends!
I’m ready to start exercising!
Great news! Here are some ideas for where to start:
- Your school, college or local community venue might run some activities you may be interested in
- Cardiff City Foundation offer free football sessions for young people aged 14 – 19 years old. Click here for more info about the sessions and programmes they offer
- Park runs are held all over the country – these are free 5 km runs organised every week by volunteers. You can search online to find one local to you – there’s one in Blackweir in Cardiff and Barry Island in the Vale of Glamorgan
- Have a look online for local sports clubs in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan
- If you work with a youth worker, social worker or other professional, they may be able to refer you for boxing sessions with Empire Fighting Chance.
Exercise and worry
There may be medical reasons for you to be cautious or worried about starting to exercise.
We suggest that you speak with your doctor or someone you trust before starting a new exercise programme or increasing your activity.
- You can tell them what you are worried about and what’s important to you
- Depending on your situation, they may be able to advise activities for you to do safely based on what’s going on with you
Compulsive exercise
Doing a lot of exercise and feeling unable to stop doing it is a potential sign of an eating disorder.
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions as they can affect both your mental and physical health.
If the thought of missing a training or exercise session would cause you extreme anxiety, we recommend speaking to your doctor for advice.