Olympic fever: How the 2012 games can inspire you
It is pretty difficult to miss the Olympics 2012 at the moment with coverage on tv, websites and splashed across most newspapers each day. But has the Olympics made you think differently about sport and maybe even inspired you to take up a sporting challenge of your own? Judo, badminton or maybe even table tennis or beach volleyball?
The link between exercise and good mental health is well documented. Scientists have proved that exercise makes your brain release chemicals that make you feel good and research shows that physical activity can be as good as antidepressants or psychological treatments like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
It is thought that you should aim to do 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week and while this could be incorporated into daily routines such as cycling to work rather than taking the car, or taking the dog for a walk round the block each evening, the Olympics gives us the opportunity to experience more exciting or unusual sports.
So why not get involved yourself in some of these sports you are watching on the tv? It doesn’t have to be an expensive activity, take Scottish swimmer Hannah Miley who trains in a community swimming pool in Inverurie which is 25m in length, half the size of the Olympic pool. It didn’t stop her making it to the Olympics this year. Long distance running is another cheap activity that can be done easily without too much flashy equipment.
But you may fancy fencing or want to try your hand at archery – check out the Olympic coverage to see what activity you would be most suited to .
If you want to tell us about your own sporting challenges or experiences or how the Olympics is inspiring you, get in touch.
