To mark this year's Mental Health Awareness Week theme, ‘Movement: Moving more for our mental health’, The Happier Life project went back into the archives to repurpose an interview host Gabby did with mental health and exercise coach Dan Hancock. Dan, who goes by ‘The Mental Health PT’ online, passionately believes in doing what works for you and you enjoy; is the key to a healthy, long lasting relationship with exercise.

There are many reasons why physical activity is good for your body, but what often gets overlooked is the vast ways it can improve our mental and emotional health too. Participation in regular physical activity can increase our self-esteem, improve our mood and reduce stress and anxiety. It also can play a pivotal role in preventing the development of mental health problems, and in improving the quality of life of people experiencing mental health challenges.

So why do so many of us struggle to move more? In this episode of The Happier Life project, Dan and Gabby talk about getting over the hurdle of gym intimidation, why aggressive fitness plans, or ‘quick fixes’ are not the answer, what to do when we lack motivation, and working with what works for you.

Dan also talks about the numerous ways exercise plays a vital role in our mental health and how this inspired him to create the world’s first certification in Mental Health and Exercise Coaching. This episode will serve as a great motivator for both those who are wanting to move more and those already on their fitness journey.

For more on Dan’s Mental Health Exercising Coaching program: https://mymhec.com/ To follow Dan on Instagram: @mentalhealthpt To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: @mypossibleself To watch the video of this interview head to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@mypossibleself1756

Note, The My Possible Self App is free to download and access all of its content. We have a variety exercise and movement videos created with your mental health in mind which you can find in the nutrition and exercise tab. Try yoga, pilates, strength, cardio... plus we even have a foundation for fitness program, for those at the start of your movement journey.