Online Workouts for Teens to Combat Loneliness and Social Isolation during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Minimise the impact of lockdown on the mental health of young people.

Without a doubt, social isolation and COVID-19 restrictions have brought about a sense of apprehension across the world. The Pandemic has affected people’s mental health in an unprecedented manner, leading to short and long term implications. As the social restrictions linger on, the potential for young people to fall into unhealthy habits is a real threat.

There are 2.2 billion children around the globe, and those aged between 10 and 19 years make up 16 % of the world's population.[1] Since March last year (2020), teenagers have been feeling lonely more than ever before. The teen years are hard enough. Closure of schools and activity areas do not belong to ordinary experiences and lead to stress, tension and a feeling of helplessness. It is vital to stay connected at this time, even if it is not face-to-face, to prioritise the wellbeing. Online workouts are a healthy way to help when teens feel sad, stressed or overwhelmed.

Importance of Online Workouts for Teens during the Lockdown

Physical activity is not just about aerobic capacity and muscle size. Regular exercise is a miracle cure which can effectively help to lead a healthier and happier life. Essential for everyone in everyday life and especially needed during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Unfortunately, the lockdown has a powerful impact on exercise levels and patterns, by heavily limiting exercise possibilities.

Regular physical activities during lockdown are vital as they help to lay the foundation for a lifetime of good health in teens. We understand that encouraging young people to move their bodies amid continuing sports shutdowns can be challenging, but it is necessary and worth the efforts. Research shows that participating in physical activity can improve mood, boost confidence and self-image, and relieve stress. Even modest amounts of exercise can make a real difference.

Benefits of Online Workouts for Teens

• Improved concentration

Physical activity immediately boosts the dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels in the brain—all of which affect focus and attention. Exercise causes blood to flow to the brain. It awakens neurones and promotes cell growth, particularly in the hippocampus (the area of the brain that is involved with retaining information which is critical for learning).

• Reduced levels of stress and anxiety

Fun Online Workouts for Teens work as a proven mood-booster to get them up and active, effectively reducing stress levels and building emotional resilience. Increased blood circulation to the brain influences the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and lowers physiologic reactivity to stress. [2]

• Weight Gain Prevention

Finding comfort in food is common when stressful situations arise. Unfortunately, excess eating leads to weight gain. Physical activity helps to burn extra calories caused by dietary changes during the lockdown.

• Improved sleep

Research demonstrates that regular exercise training increases sleep duration and variables of sleep quality in young people. Participants who engaged in levels of physical activity were more likely to experience better sleep quality. [3]

• Reduced feeling of loneliness and social isolation

When exercising in person with your workout buddies is not possible, an online workout is a reasonable option. Live structured fitness classes with professional trainers motivate, help to stay in shape and work towards a specific goal. Book a class together with your mates and experience the feeling of connectedness. Now is the best time to take advantage of technology and stay connected to friends.

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Book a professional online workout for teens and continue to push yourself when trips to the gyms are not an option.

Our virtual boxing classes for teenagers act as a powerful virtual medicine for mental health challenges.

References:

[1] UNICEF [2] PMC "Exercise for Mental Health" [3] PMC "Interrelationship between Sleep and Exercise: A Systematic Review"