Wednesday 1 April 2015

Spring into the new season

Spring is a time of new beginnings, and now the clocks have changed, longer days and better weather are starting to make a big difference to our state of mind.

During the winter, getting up in the dark and leaving work in the dark can make us feel listless and lacking in motivation, and fit for nothing but curling up on the sofa with an outsized mug of tea and a DVD. Now that daffodils, crocuses and other flowers are beginning to colour the countryside, though, while trees start to bud and lamps begin to hop about the fields, most of us are starting to feel the effects of the new season.

It can be hard to get enough exercise in the winter, as short days, poor weather, mud and dismal landscapes are often enough to deter all but the most determined from getting outside. It's easy too, to wrap ourselves up in sweaters and scarves and indulge in some serious comfort eating, telling ourselves we'll soon get back into shape in spring. Well, spring officially started on March 20th, so it's definitely time to make a start!

Getting out and getting more exercise is good for us in all sorts of ways. Sunshine can boot levels of the mood-lifting chemical serotonin, so lack of sufficient sunlight over the winter can leave us feeling low and depressed. If you're a healthy adult aged between 18 and 64, the National Health Service recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise every week, which is also a great mood enhancer.

If you struggle with motivation, playing a team sport is a great way of adding a fun, social aspect to exercise, and it'll also help you develop other skills such as coordination and balance. At Play Simple Netball, a friendly and approachable organisation in the North West, we're recruiting for our summer leagues in April. 

This Easter, why not make a new start and come along to one of our taster sessions?


For more information, visit www.simplenetball.co.uk or call Jo on 07779 642041.