Oswestry gym with wellbeing focus welcomes lottery boost
BBC Shropshire
BBC News, West Midlands
Getty imagesA gymnasium set up by emphasizing the well-being of the body and the mind received a lottery subsidy of £ 14,000 to develop its work.
The Soma Space in Oswestry was created two years ago by Kevin Braddock, psychotherapist and fitness instructor, and Jo Hazell-Watkins, personal trainer and trauma-informed trauma coach.
It offers combined force training and psychotherapy, and potential customers can refer or be referred by social workers and general practitioners.
Braddock said the gymnasium was there to help people start exercising, knowing what to do and where and with whom, adding that everyone knew the advantages of the exercise on mental health, but the question for many was “how to do it”.
The 12 online lessons for mental health, which has received support from the lottery, focuses on six basic movements designed to stimulate mental health.
Braddock said: “Our slogan is the movement for mental health.
“We are interested in the advantages of mental health exercise, what everyone knows, but the question is how do you do it.
“For someone who could have trouble with mental illness or poor mental health, how do they start to exercise? What are they doing? Where with?”
‘A feeling of relief’
“As long as you have a few square meters, or a garden, or a space where you feel comfortable to be, you can start moving,” said Ms. Hazell-Watkins.
People could try a set of 10 squats just by sitting on a chair and recovering, or walking 10 times in their garden, “she added.
“A private space, no special clothes and everything that puts a little request on your body is a good start,” she said.
Imogen, who used in Soma space, had always been nervous to go to a gymnasium because she thought it would be “lots of people who were super in good shape and super strong and I did not consider myself one of these people”.
She said that her nerves quickly evaporated, adding: “It certainly helped me with low moods and feeling depressed … When I go there, I feel a feeling of relief. I feel just calmer and more comfortable.”
