Hack your way to better health
We meet one #Hack1000miler who’s living proof you can
UNLESS YOU’RE SUPERHUMAN, the pressures of daily life can become overwhelming. Work, health and family can bring a whole host of challenges your way and, if you’ve ever felt like you just need a break, be assured you’re not alone. The good news is that being with horses and hacking in the countryside can help. In fact, research indicates that exercising outdoors can give your mental health and self-esteem a handy boost. Sometimes called ‘green exercise’, this type of exercise can include anything from walking and running outdoors to riding.
Reduce your stress hormone
“Being active is really important for both physical and mental health,” says Lucy Lyus, information manager at the charity, Mind. “Physical activity boosts our mood and improves mental well-being. It also helps us to switch off from everyday pressures, relieves stress and gives us time to clear our heads. “When you exercise, you release ‘feel‘fee good’ hormones called endorphins, which help reduce negative feelings and improve your mood. Exercise rcise also reduces levels of cortisol, the ‘stress hormone’, which has been linked to a range of mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.” As Lucy explains, exercising in the great outdoors has been shown to be particularly beneficial because the combined mix of colours, sounds and smells act together to stimulate our senses and our overall well-being. She adds: “Research shows that outdoor exercise can be as effective for some people as antidepressants in treating mild to moderate depression, and should be one of the first interventions recommended.”
Riding as treatment
One Your Horse reader, Louise Maynard, who suffers from PTSD, anxiety and severe depression, agrees. “My doctor has said I’m the first patient to be ‘prescribed’ horse riding,” she says. “#Hack1000miles has come just at the right time for my recovery. On days that I am unmotivated to push forward, I look at my chart and it gives me a focus and an achievable goal, which is roughly 20 miles a week. “On days ys that I feel overwhelmed byb the illness, I have support from my family to help me through and I havehav come to accept that I have these days.day Having a realistic goal really helps with the sense of achievement and I love being part of it and being inspired by others on the Facebook group. I believe the power of horses can help to get you through, help you to cope and just help you to feel alive on a good day.” So, if you’re having a bad day, or feel as though you’re stuck in a string of bad days, head to the yard and let your horse give you a boost. You can also hop online and soak up the support of other #Hack1000milers in the #Hack1000miles Facebook group. After all, us horsey folk have our own special community and you’re part of it. To read more about Louise and her story, visit www.hack1000miles.co.uk and for more about the benefits of sports on mental health, visit www.mind.org.uk/sport