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.
Find your Feelgood Health
Everybody is different, which also means the way we stay healthy is different.
We’ve created five Feelgood Health mindsets to help you find your own path to Feelgood Health. So, whether you’re a Gains Guru, or a Good Lifer, we’ve got your back.
On the Feelgood Health hub you can discover your mindset and get access to recommended articles and videos.
Top articles for exercise and fitness
Wellbeing
Mythbusters: yoga facts and fiction
There are many myths surrounding yoga that can put some people off. We're however, sorting the fact from the fiction and highlighting the flexibility of the practice.
Read moreWellbeing
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.
Read moreExercise 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.
Read moreWellbeing
Exercise for older adults
We explore exercises specifically designed for older people and provide some helpful tips to get started on a fitness journey tailored to their needs.
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 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 moreHeart
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.
Read moreExercise 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.
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 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 moreDiet and nutrition
Exercises to improve digestion
Why take a look at why looking after your digestive system is more important than you might think – and how exercise can help.
Read moreExercise and fitness
Improve your circulation through exercise
We explore some common circulation issues and explain how exercise can help boost your cardiovascular health
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.
Read moreExercise and fitness
Strength training for women: top benefits and how to 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
Many of us embark on fitness journeys with exercise goals in mind but how can we achieve them? We address some common fitness goals and look at manageable ways to get there.
Read moreExercise and fitness
Benefits of cycling & key reasons why cycling is good for 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
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 moreMusculoskeletal
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.
Read moreExercise 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.
Read moreExercise 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.
Read moreResilience
Benefits of hiking
With more people giving hiking a go, we explore the benefits, and precautions to take, before you pull on your walking boots and head outdoors.
Read moreWellbeing
Exercise and weight loss
Our experts answer your questions about exercise, fitness training and weight loss.
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 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 moreExercise and fitness
10 heart-healthy activities: 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
The link between exercise and mental wellbeing - boost your mood and confidence
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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