International Self-Care Day: Self-Care Through Movement

Today marks International Self Care Day, a day dedicated to promoting the importance of personal health, mental wellness and the importance of self-care practices.

Self-care encompasses several practices to promote physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Not only does a good fitness routine support your physical health, but exercise promotes positive mental health and emotional wellbeing too.

At Echelon, we offer a range of equipment and on-demand classes that you can follow along via your smartphone and the Echelon Fit App or through our indoor exercise bikes, smart treadmill and smart rowing machine.

This International Self-Care Day, whether you are ready to overcome common fitness barriers and get back to fitness with Echelon, or are looking for an intense workout companion to help you sweat this summer, our equipment and Echelon membership can support you as you work towards your goals.

What is self-care?

Self-care can take form in many ways depending on what works best for you and your schedule. For many people, self-care may include taking a hot bath, journalling or spending time with loved ones. For others, exercise is the most important form of self-care.

Physical self-care can include getting enough sleep, understanding how to fuel your workouts and exercising regularly. Each of these aspects can also improve your mental health. For example, getting enough sleep helps to regulate your mood and improve cognitive function, healthy eating provides your brain with the nutrients it needs to functional optimally and exercise impacts mental wellbeing by releasing mood-boosting chemicals like endorphins which reduce stress and help you feel better in yourself.

Mental self-care can also consist of practising mindfulness, reading or taking breaks from work or screens whilst emotional self-care can include identifying and managing emotions in healthy ways through journalling or going to therapy.

International Self-Care Day is celebrated annually to remind us just how important it is to look ourselves in today’s busy world. Whether working out with others or exercising at home, you can transform your fitness routine with a supportive fitness community through Echelon, and support your self-care whilst learning new things from others.

Ways to move your body to improve mental wellbeing

Everyone has a preferred workout routine or a certain piece of equipment that helps them feel their best during and after a workout. Taking part in exercise during pregnancy or easing back into fitness postpartum is going to be a different experience compared to staying fit while travelling, so it is important that you have access to a range of materials which can support you, no matter what period of your life you are in.

Indoor exercise bikes, like Echelon’s smart exercise bike, are a great way to take part in a low-intensity workout, but they can increase in intensity depending on your goals. Getting started with indoor cycling may seem like a shift from outdoor cycling, but ensuring you have the correct equipment – like the Connect Sport 2 or Connect EX-5s – as well as proper activewear and footwear can help make your smart exercise bike workout more effective. The benefits of cycling include cardiovascular, muscular and health and wellbeing benefits, meaning you can look after your physical and mental health in one workout.

Choosing the right Echelon fitness bike may seem stressful or it may not be right for you. Instead, you might prefer to use a smart rowing machine or a smart treadmill, depending on your fitness goals and what will make you feel most comfortable as you practise self-care through movement. Indoor rowing for beginners consists of a high-intensity full body workout to support your cardio and strength, with benefits of rowing including reduced risk of diabetes and heart diseases. Or, you may prefer the benefits of running using a treadmill, with a focus on your lower body muscles, reducing arthritis, improving sleep and mental wellbeing.

If you don’t want to use a machine and are looking for something less intense, the Echelon Fit App has several live and on-demand classes that you can follow along on your smartphone. You don’t need a smart exercise bike, rowing machine or treadmill to complete these classes. Echelon FitPass allows you to complete equipment-free classes to suit your schedule.

Boosting your mental health with yoga can support you physically as well as mentally; the physical benefits of improved flexibility, balance and strength are one thing but the psychological benefits, including reduced stress levels, relieved symptoms of depression and eased anxiety can help you live a healthier lifestyle.

Benefits of moving your body

Anyone can exercise at any time in their lives, but everyone has different preferences to the way they approach their fitness routine. You may prefer to go to a traditional gym setting to complete your workout, or taking time to exercise in your home gym area may suit your schedule better. Regardless of your preferences or which works best for you, practising self-care through movement has many benefits and you should always consider the importance of physical exercise for mental strength.

These benefits include:

·      Improved cardiovascular health, weight management and reduced risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and some cancers

·      Reduced stress and anxiety, increased energy levels and improved mood, sleep and cognitive function

·      Increased social interaction if you work out with others or increased independence if you work out alone

Fitness communities use exercise to discuss mental health, so not only is working out a great way to keep fit and look after physical health, but it can introduce you to a community of people who encourage you to open up about your feelings and support you on your fitness journey.