Fitness festival is for mind and body
Stirling will be among coach Matt’s exercise locations
A Stirling fitness coach is hoping that a new nationwide festival event will help more people improve their health inside and out.
Dan Hancock has been busy since the end of lockdown spreading the word about his Mental Health and Exercise Coaching (MHEC) qualification, with more than 350 personal trainers now signed up for the programme - which combines mental health training with existing exercise coaching.
The latest step in his journey is the creation of a brand new free ‘MHEC Fest’, held across 30 locations in the UK - including a session in Stirling set for next month.
The event is designed to help people use the tool of exercise to improve their mental health, having the twin benefits of providing vital assistance for those on waiting lists for treatment, as well as those left with gym anxiety.
With the festival set for April 20, Dan told the Observer: “It’s been a whirlwind few years, I’m still writing the qualification but we now have around 350 trained coaches based not just in the UK, but also in the US, Australia and the Middle East.
“There are loads of barriers for people seeking out mental health support, some people are waiting up to 18 months and even then what they receive can be not up to standard. On the exercise side of things, it’s a great tool to improve your mind but again, people might not be in a position to engage with it because of that anxiety or because they aren’t in a position afford a personal trainer.”
The location for the Stirling event has yet to be officially confirmed, but Dan is moving full steam ahead on a concept that he is hoping will become a regular fixture and help reach people currently not served by support in place.
“It’s essentially a threehour festival free of charge - some coaches are hosting in gyms, others in school gym halls, some in community centres so it’s different locations and quite a big mix depending on the coaches,” he added.
“The demand has been absolutely massive. We conducted a poll and more than 90 per cent of those who responded said they’d rather work with a MHEC coach than a traditional personal trainer and it has been an option for people to this point, to have someone who has that direct qualification.
“It will be open to people of all fitness levels and abilities; if someone has good fitness they can still benefit, but equally those who haven’t set foot in a gym will also be able to get something from it.
“Childcare is often an issue which can block people from being able to come along, but kids will be able to head up as well alongside their parents to address that worry.”
The Stirling event will take place between 10am and 1pm and those interested in finding out more can visit mailchi.mp/mymhec/mhecfest-stirling-2024.
The demand has been absolutely massive Dan Hancock