Exercise and Fitness

It’s never too late to start being more active. Whatever your age or ability, your body and mind will thank you for it. Not only can regular physical activity help lower the risk of many chronic diseases, it can also help relieve stress, anxiety and depression, as well as reducing the risk of dementia. Best of all, it’s free. You can even build it into every day activities if the gym’s not for you!

To stay healthy, try to be active daily. This can range from cycling or brisk walking, to dancing, swimming or gardening.

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Top articles for exercise and fitness

Exercise and fitness

How to boost the health benefits of walking

Getting active doesn’t need to be complicated and there are little things you can do when you’re out and about to get even more benefits from walking.

Exercise and fitness

Benefits of standup paddleboarding

Sarah Kemp, health and wellbeing programme manager at AXA Health, explains some of the mental and physical health benefits of getting out on the water to go standup paddleboarding.

Wellbeing

Steps to becoming active – your way

Say goodbye to unsustainable fads and short-term gains. Sarah Kemp, Health and Wellbeing Programme Manager at AXA Health, shares some great tips to get active in a way that's right for you.

Exercise and fitness

Workout with Shona Vertue

Shona Vertue is a personal trainer, yoga teacher and creator of the Vertue Method. She created these exclusive HIIT, yoga and glute workouts for AXA Health, for days when you don’t have much time, but still want to get your body moving!

Ageing well

Age limit for couch to 5k challenge

There’s no age limit when it comes to keeping fit, taking part in runs or exercising, however it is advisable to be sensible and listen to your body and bear in mind any health conditions that you might have.

Diet and nutrition

I have an underactive thyroid and I am on medication

Hypothyroidism – also known as an underactive thyroid – is where your thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough of the hormones that control your metabolism.

Wellbeing

Health benefits of swimming

What’s the perfect form of exercise with minimal risk of injury that’s suitable for all levels of fitness?

Diet and nutrition

Top tips for ageing well

Now we're living longer, it's never too early to start thinking about how to protect your health later in life. Follow these tips to age-proof your health now.

Mental health

Looking after yourself during self-isolation

Not knowing when we may be able to return to our normal routine makes it all the more important that we stay mentally well and be kind to ourselves through these uncertain times.

Mental health

Top tips to stay positive during adversity

Keeping a positive mindset during unsettling times might feel more easily said than done, but it is possible. Daniel Poulter, Physiologist at AXA Health, shares his top tips for achieving a positive mind-set during difficult times.

Heart

Heart missing a beat

Did you know that your heart beats around 100,000 times a day?

Heart

Does exercise lower blood pressure?

Aerobic exercise can help reduce your blood pressure by up to 10 per cent. AXA Health senior physiologist, Danial Craig shares his tips for managing blood pressure through physical activity.

Exercise and fitness

Common exercise myths getting in the way of a healthier you

Exercise has many physical and mental health benefits but there are some misconceptions that can get in the way. Daniel Craig, Senior Physiologist at AXA Health, addresses some common myths so you can re-think or relax about your exercise regime.

Exercise and fitness

Is it a sprain or a strain? 5 common sport injuries and how to treat them

Aching shins, painful knees and general sprains and strains can all be symptoms of sports injuries.

Diet and nutrition

Eating before and after exercise

Exercise is key to a healthy lifestyle, but to really maximise a workout, fuelling our bodies in the right way is vital. Associate nutritionist Georgina Camfield explains the right foods at the right time can supercharge our workouts and aid recovery to we can train again sooner.

Exercise and fitness

Am I overtraining?

AXA Health senior physiologist, Jemelle Carpenter-Gayle, looks at the consequences of overtraining and some of the signs to look out for, and offers his top tips to help keep your training programme on track.

Exercise and fitness

Post-marathon recovery

Jemelle Carpenter-Gayle, physiologist at AXA Health, highlights the different stages our bodies go through after endurance running and simple wellbeing strategies to overcome post-marathon pangs, so you can continue on your fitness journey.

Exercise and fitness

Running back to fitness

Running is a simple and effective physical activity that almost all of us can get started on straight away, says Avneet Jheeta, Junior Physiologist at AXA Health.

Children

Get cycling this summer!

The summer is finally here and the motivation to look and feel good seems more heightened.

Stress

Exercises to improve digestion

AXA Health physiologist, Sarah Kemp explains why looking after your digestive system is more important than you might think – and how exercise can help.

Mental health

Get active to delay dementia and boost your brain power

Experts believe that the key to preventing Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia could lie in being physically active. Here we look at why that might be and suggest some exercises that could give your brain a workout as well as your body.

Heart

How to lower high blood pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) affects more than one in four adults in the UK, increasing their risk of serious conditions including heart attack and stroke. One of the biggest problems with high blood pressure is that it virtually never causes any short term symptoms, so the only way to find out if you have it is to have it measured.

Exercise and fitness

Training with weights

Including weight training into your regular weekly routine has so many positive health benefits, it's something we should all try.

Heart

Improve your circulation through exercise

Are you concerned about your cardiovascular health? Our experts look at circulation issues, why exercise helps, and which activities are best when it comes to boosting your circulation and heart health.

Mental health

Benefits and tips for exercising outdoors

The health benefits of time spent in nature have been well documented. When it’s combined with physical activity of any kind, our whole mind-body health reaps the benefits, writes Luke Weston, physiologist at AXA Health.

Exercise and fitness

Home workouts using everyday objects from around the house

AXA Health Junior Physiologist, Sam Brazier, offers his tips on how to get a good workout using everyday objects from around the house, to help keep you physically and mentally fit.

Exercise and fitness

Weight training for women: benefits of strength training and how you can get started

Luke Weston, Junior Physiologist at AXA Health, explains how strength training is important for both men and women and helps to dispel the myth that women and weights don’t mix.

Exercise and fitness

A guide to exercising for different goals

It’s no secret that exercise is key to better health, but many of us embark on a new fitness journey with a specific goal in mind. AXA Health Junior Physiologist, Luke Weston addresses some common fitness goals and manageable ways to achieve them.

Exercise and fitness

A guide to CrossFit

If you’re looking to introduce something a bit different to your workout routine, CrossFit can be a great way to add a new challenge to your gym training.

Mental health

The benefits of group exercise

Doing exercise with friends is great for your morale because you’re more likely to commit to taking part and feel a sense of achievement as a result. You’ll also feel good about yourself and motivated to do more.

Exercise and fitness

(Re)discover the joys of cycling and boost your feelgood factor as well as your health

Adding cycling into your routine is a great way to improve your physical and mental health. It doubles up as transport, so it is one of the most effective ways to get your recommended 150 minutes of weekly activity, without drastic changes to your routine.

Exercise and fitness

Exercises to improve your balance and coordination

Balance training is something that may not spring to mind when planning a fitness regime. However, it can add value and is worth doing at any age. AXA Health Junior Physiologist and qualified personal trainer, Luke Weston explains which exercises to focus on for balance training.

Wellbeing

Everyday exercise

Find out just how beneficial everyday activities can be on the body in this infographic from AXA Health.

Exercise and fitness

The health benefits of dancing

From shimmying round the kitchen while cooking up a meal, to getting the whole family up off the sofa to have a dance in front of the TV, dancing is one of those things that makes us feel good.

Musculoskeletal

Top 10 exercises for a healthy back

Discover ten lower back and core exercises and stretches recommended to help lower back pain from AXA Health.

Mental health

Benefits of hiking

With more people giving hiking a go, health and wellbeing programme manager at AXA Health, Sarah Kemp, explains the benefits, and precautions to take, before you pull on your walking boots and head outdoors.

Wellbeing

Exercise and weight loss

Our experts answer your questions about exercise, fitness training and weight loss.

Exercise and fitness

Keeping active as we age

Leading a sedentary lifestyle has a negative impact on our overall health, so it’s important to know how you can keep active to support any aches and pains you may suffer from as you get older.

Wellbeing

Health and fitness benefits of gardening

Regular exercise has a host of benefits but it doesn't have to feel like exercise...

Wellbeing

Health benefits of walking

Walking is one of the most underrated forms of physical activity, yet it has numerous health benefits, requires no equipment other than a sturdy pair of shoes, and it's free!

Diet and nutrition

How gadgets can improve health and wellbeing

As the health tech revolution continues to develop, we’re seeing new innovations every day that are helping to improve our health and wellbeing.

Exercise and fitness

Top 10 alternatives to brisk walking

Brisk walking is a great form of moderate aerobic exercise, but if it’s not for you, here are our top 10 activities that will also give your heart a work out.

Musculoskeletal

Osteoporosis and bone health

There’s a lot we can do to build strong bones and reduce the risk of osteoporosis – including paying attention to diet, exercise and our lifestyle choices – and the earlier we start, the better.

Resilience

How keeping active benefits our mental wellbeing

We all know the physical benefits that come with being active: from a healthy heart and improved circulation to improved bone health and reduced risk of some illnesses. But, with physical and mental health being so intertwined, exercise is known to also have profound impacts on our mental wellbeing.

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