MOVES TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD

Beat stress and keep smiling with these mood-lifting ways to stay active

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Feeling low or lost your motivation? The idea of working out might not fill you with joy when you're down or exhausted, but a blast of movement could be just what you need to feel lighter and brighter.

'Exercise plays a huge role in helping us to feel healthier and more energetic and the effect it has on our mental wellbeing is significant,' says fitness expert Laura Williams. 'Exercise alters and increases the activity of powerful hormones and neurotransmitters in the brain and can make you feel clear-headed and more optimistic.' Here’s what to try for a natural mental boost.

Be a slow runner

Think you can’t run? Start much slower and resist the urge to speed up, so you don't get puffed out. There’s no shame in sticking to a relaxed plod — you'll enjoy it more and still get the benefits of movement outdoors. ‘Running should be a pleasurable experience, not one you dread,’ says coach Jules Scudder of runningrewire.com. To jog with others, try your local, weekend Parkrun (parkrun.org.uk) — walking the course is encouraged if you need to take it easy.

Hop on a bike