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Wellbeing
Exercise and fitness
You don’t need special equipment, clothes, or a fitness club membership to be physically active.
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.
If you have a health question, it's simple to use our free Ask the Expert service. The team is here to help you and your family 24/7.
Top articles for exercise and fitness
Wellbeing
The Shona Vertue edit
We asked personal trainer Shona Vertue, creator of the hugely successful ‘Vertue Method’ for her top 5 picks to complement any fitness regime. Here's what she had to say...
Read moreExercise and fitness
5 ways to boost the health benefits of walking
Walking is one of the best ways to increase your activity levels, lose weight, boost your metabolism and help build your resilience. Here we look at simple ways to supercharge your walk to add strengthening and toning your legs, bottom and abdominal muscles to the list of benefits.
Read moreWellbeing
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.
Read moreExercise 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!
Read moreElder care
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.
Read moreDiet 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.
Read moreWellbeing
Health benefits of swimming
What’s the perfect form of exercise with minimal risk of injury that’s suitable for all levels of fitness?
Read moreDiet 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.
Read moreMental 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.
Read moreMental 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.
Read moreHeart
Does exercise lower blood pressure?
Aerobic exercise can help reduce your blood pressure by up to 10 per cent.
Read moreExercise 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.
Read moreDiet 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.
Read moreExercise and fitness
Don’t let these 10 common exercise myths hold you back from staying active
We all know exercise has many physical and mental health benefits. There are lots of tips and tricks out there to help us achieve our fitness goals, but also some misconceptions that can get in the way...
Read moreExercise 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
Read moreExercise 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.
Read moreExercise 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.
Read moreMental 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.
Read moreStress
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.
Read moreChildren
Get cycling this summer!
The summer is finally here and the motivation to look and feel good seems more heightened.
Read moreHeart
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.
Read moreExercise 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.
Read moreHeart
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.
Read moreExercise 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.
Read moreExercise 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.
Read moreMental 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.
Read moreExercise 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.
Read moreExercise 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.
Read moreExercise 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.
Read moreExercise 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.
Read moreMental 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.
Read moreWellbeing
Exercise and weight loss
Our experts answer your questions about exercise, fitness training and weight loss.
Read moreHeart
Benefits of hiking
Hiking has been increasing in popularity in the UK over recent years and with more people giving it a go, it’s good to know the benefits and precautions to take, before you pull on your walking boots and head outdoors
Read moreWellbeing
Health and fitness benefits of gardening
Regular exercise has a host of benefits but it doesn't have to feel like exercise...
Read moreWellbeing
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!
Read moreDiet 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.
Read moreExercise 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.
Read moreMusculoskeletal
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.
Read moreResilience
Exercise and mental health benefits
Dr Mark Winwood talks about the benefits of exercise on our mental health.
Read more