Walking and Talking
Have you ever experienced that awesome rush of excitement after going to the gym, swimming a few laps of the pool or going for a long walk? Generally speaking, you just FEEL BETTER after you exercise. And why not burn a few calories whilst sorting out your problems all at the same time, now that's multi-tasking!
Scientifically speaking, it is the work of those little wonders called endorphins which are hormones rushing around within your brain and nervous system. Kate Hays, PhD, and author of Working It Out: Using Exercise in Psychotherapy, states that rhythmic exercise such as walking, can be conducive to the process of self-discovery. It is also a new and refreshing way of doing therapy and can be more relaxing than being stuck in a counselling room for an hour trying not to fidget!
There are 3 really good reasons for combining exercise and therapy: It encourages a client to be more physically active for mental and physical reasons, it can help a client get "unstuck" when confronting difficult issues, and it spurs creative, deeper ways of thinking to solve problems.
So...why not take therapy outdoors where the sun is shining, the waves are crashing, the sand is crunchy, the birds are singing...you get the picture...So...instead of it being a walk in the park, why not go for a walk on the beach and have a yarn while you're at it!
