GYSLT Top Tips for Self-Care

Turn up the music!

Something you can do to improve your mood now: turn on that music and turn it up loud. Dance around the house and move. A powerful tool for shaking off a bad mood.

Treat yourself

Eat the treat! It’s all about moderation, fit your food into a healthy lifestyle and enjoy it. Eating healthily and enjoying a treat now and then means you are less likely to overdo it!

Get in the kitchen and cook.

Sending the time to make a nourishing and healthy meal can actually have a positive impact on mind and body.You’ll find it may encourage you to explore more healthy recipes. 

Get a massage (be aware of Covid-19 advice on this)

At a spa, from your partner, a local beauty salon or an at home therapist – massage is a great way to take care of your body (and slots into ‘you’ time that I think should be happening every week)

Put aside some ‘you’ time

An hour once or twice a week – schedule in a little relaxation time! If you struggle to give yourself a breather and are weighed under a workload this is a great thing to schedule and stick to. Go somewhere relaxing, meditate, do a yoga class… the only rule... no phones allowed.

Screen time ban

Set boundaries with your phone and create some ‘no phone zones’ in your life! Set aside time in your day to unplug from technology and be fully present.

Breathe

Life is just too fast. Pause for a moment right now and close your eyes to take a few deep, cleansing breaths – make some space.

Move it

The very core of what we are about – moving, exercise is so important daily, it doesn’t have to be strenuous – do whatever you feel like doing. Swimming, walking, jumping, marching in front of the TV, yoga, weightlifting, HIIT - you’ll never regret exercise.

Health Benefits of Regular Exercise

Exercise boosts immunity

If you are looking to boost your immune system this cold season, by exercising regularly there’s a good chance you won’t just be helping your mind and body, but you’ll be helping to boost your immune system too. Numerous studies* suggest that by exercising just a few times a week you can reduce the number of colds you get every year. Exercise not only keeps you healthier but actually can help the body fight off harmful diseases and keep the common cold at bay. The research is ongoing, but this is what we know about the positive impact exercise can have.

How Exercise Boosts the Immune System

By exercising weekly or regularly, there are a number of benefits to the body. Exercise strengthens the heart and allows you to pump more blood throughout your body when you get moving. Your lungs in turn improve their oxygenation process and your muscles strengthen. Well, your immune system is no different. It has been found that exercise provides a boost to the cells in your body that attack bacteria… and appear to work more slowly in those who exercise less or not at all.

Exercising Too Much Can Hurt Your Immune System

It’s also important to remember that balance is very important. You can have a detrimental impact on your immune system if you don’t give your body enough rest. For example, if you are doing a lot of exercise in a short period or intensely training for a marathon you can start to feel run down and tired. So, remember we always promote good health and exercise in the right moderation. Rest properly in between your work outs and don’t push yourself over capacity.

Improving Your Immune System by Exercising

You don’t have to be a super human or athlete to boost your immune system, but we recommend you exercise sensibly a few times a week or walk for half an hour each day. While it won’t make a cold vanish, studies by Forbes have shown that those who work out take fewer sick days and you are likely to make a quicker recovery.

Sources

*British Sports Journal

*WebMD

*Department of Health

10 reasons why basketball is such a beneficial sport!

Basketball is a team sport played widely across the globe and one of the most viewed. It consists of 2 teams of five active players looking to score points against one another by throwing a ball through a 10 foot high hoop, or basket. It can be played indoors and out and the size of court, height of the basket and length of game-play can all vary according to the age and skill level of the players!

1.      As a fast moving game, it involves dribbling, defence, rebounding and shooting meaning its incredibly active, fun and an amazing workout

2.      An hour of basketball can burn up to 750 calories, and while its stop-start nature means it isn’t considered aerobic it’s a big workout to play a game whether serious or fun

3.      It improves balance and co-ordination

4.      Builds up muscle

5.      Builds up endurance

6.      As with all team sports it develops self-discipline

It’s a fantastic sport for kids and as well as being a great way to stay fit it can:

7.      Help build friendships and teach the importance of being a team player

8.      Can be played by everyone – all ages and abilities

9.      It’s an all year sport because it can be played indoors and outdoors

10.  You don’t need a full team to play – you can enjoy basketball alone (just you and a hoop!) or with two people practising dribbling and defence. Although an official game requires 10, we say the more the merrier for a fun summer activity!

Getting started with basketball

Check out your local sports centres in Great Yarmouth and associations for information on how to join a team or start your own. You can always get in contact with us to point you in the right direction.

 If you are already part of a team and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, then we are taking applications for awarding in November 2019.

4 Reasons Children Should Play Sport.

Why children should play sport.

We here, at Great Yarmouth Sport and Leisure Trust all know that physical activity is one of the best benefits of sports participation – getting outside and away from the lures of television and video games (all in good measure obviously!)

But, whilst sports and games give opportunities for exercise; to keep children in shape and healthy, there are also a vast variety of benefits over and above the physical side that will last long beyond the team or playing of the sport.

Self-esteem and confidence boosting

Sports and physical activity, we know from experience, has huge, positive impact on a child’s self-esteem. Learning to trust their own abilities as they grow and to push themselves.

They can teach motivation, help them excel in academics and improve social skills. Participation can also teach children the importance of goal setting and ambition - persistence is needed when you are a sportsperson and learning to deal with victories and set backs is all part and parcel of growing confidence.

Respecting the strengths and weaknesses of others and learning how to support and be inspired in equal measures is a wonderful thing to learn from a young age and being part of a sports team will always throw up that kind of mix. All important reasons to be encouraging our children to get moving and get involved in school sports or outside clubs.

Social skills

There really is nothing like being part of a team to build social skills! These skills not only benefit within that sporting moment but will benefit throughout life. Dealing with difficult people or difficult situations – all skills that can be learnt on the field, in the dojo, the sports-hall or swimming pool.

Social skills are not limited to simply interacting with peers but also prepare us for leadership skills, team building, and communication; valuable life skills that can be applied to school, future careers and personal relationships. As an aside, it also allows children to confidently engage with those outside of their peers, communicating with older children and adults allowing them to express themselves appropriately, a skill so often forgotten about.

Lifelong wellness

Finally, lifelong health is something important to us, health and wellness shouldn’t be limited to children but encouraged into adulthood. Being active (we hope) brings with it an awareness of healthy life choices for example eating well and ensuring the right nutrition is fuelling all that energy, sleeping well, learning how to deal with daily stress and more - and that can only be a positive thing.

So, if you have a team that needs funding – get in touch, we know how important team spirit is as a whole, and to the individual.

Six Reasons Why Team Sports Are Good For Your Health

1. Team sports reduce obesity and increase overall health.

2. Athletes who train with a team are healthier.

3. Being part of a team enhances self-image.

4. Competition improves endurance.

5. Team sports increase long-term happiness.

6. Team sports make you smarter.

Convinced?! If your team needs funding for equipment, kit or fundraising materials - check out our criteria, you could be eligible for funding for up to £500.