When the pandemic COVID-19 hit the United Stated in March 2020, almost everything was completely shut down. We stayed home, isolated ourselves from our social, educational, and professional networks, and even avoided close family and friends for our health and safety. After about 4 weeks of this imposed lack of freedom, I began to feel the effects mentally and emotionally, and I decided I needed to do something for myself to get through the craziness. Exercise has always been my go-to, but with the restrictions on gyms and my childcare responsibilities, there were few options available.
I decided to reach out to a friend and personal trainer that I have known for years, Gabriel Zuniga of OMNIA Fitness. Gabe is active on social media, and was offering online personal training, so I signed up. OMNIA Fitness is based in Vietnam and there is a 13-hour time difference, but we were able to find a time to make our training sessions work for both of us. Throughout the last year of working with Gabe, we’ve had several discussions about the benefits of physical exercise on mental health. His experience and insight led me to ask him to contribute to a blog for Catalyss Counseling, and here is Gabe’s story and wisdom.
Presents your day with better purpose and stronger structure
Incorporating physical exercise into your day helps you create structure and gives you something purposeful to do. You might find yourself exhausted at the end of the day and just wasting hour after hour staring at the TV. How about instead, you create something to look forward to, that may be challenging but will also make you feel good at accomplishing it? To make it very simple, all you need to do is create a workout routine, schedule it daily, and follow it.
Helps manage anxiety
The release of endorphins after a workout has especially helped me deal better with anxiety during uncertain times. There was time after time that I did not know what would happen with my company, my family, and my wife, and finishing a workout was the only thing that I knew for certain would happen. Anxiety is fear of the unknown, of the future, and we’ve all had to manage with a LOT of anxiety over the past year. Following your daily workout routine can be a certainty in a scary world.
Fights off impending depression
Again, time after time I had days of not wanting to get out of bed. I was in such a bad state of mental health that bed seemed like the only place I could be. Because of being physically strong in “OWNING” an ironlike-habit of never missing a workout, my body literally lifted me out of bed and to the gym. Getting my workouts in was the one thing that saved me from depression, and I know it can save you too.
Boosts confidence
A workout was the only platform that I used to help my self-esteem improve. I was looking and feeling better, which helped with my decision-making and problem solving. All of this led to more confidence in myself. I also had more energy, and more focus, and who doesn’t need more of that? Especially when things are hard in your life, having the mental energy to cut out the distractions and focus on the important things is key.
Increases happiness through helping others
Personal training is a service that I, through OMNIA Fitness, provide to others. I found that I couldn’t walk the walk without doing my own personal workout sessions. Once I forced myself to get up and complete my daily workout, I could then help others with the same struggles I was having. I helped my boost my clients’ self-esteem and confidence, which then increased my happiness because I was helping others. The power of helping more gave me new and improved energy levels so I was able to provide training with a genuine want to help.
These are the five reasons that helped myself, and then because of helping myself being able to help others, go through the most mentally trying times of my life. Working out got me through an ugly divorce, my best friend dying, deciding what to do with my company, and then dealing with COVID while living across the world from my family. I have better purpose now in my life as I was able to fight off depression, boost my confidence, give me a purpose and daily structure, manage my anxiety, and increase my happiness. These reasons are how I got through my hardship, and I hope they can help you.
If you’re interested in learning more about OMNIA Fitness and Gabe’s virtual personal training program, visit Get Fit with Omnia.
How We Can Help
Back by popular demand, we are offering the meaningful connections group in july 2021!
Improve your self-esteem and learn coping strategies through meaningful connections with others!
For anxious or isolated millennials who are ready to go from a lack of fulfilling relationships to meaningful connections with others in a safe, supportive online group.
This group will be hosted by Leah Sadeghi, LPC
If you are looking for general support, or if you would like to talk to someone more about how we can help you, follow these simple steps:
Contact us today for a free 20-minute phone consultation
Or, you can book directly online with the therapist of your choice
Begin your journey towards a calmer, more relaxed life
Other Therapy Services Available at Catalyss Counseling:
Here at Catalyss Counseling, we want to meet all of your counseling needs in the Denver area. Our supportive therapists provide depression counseling, therapy for caregiver stress, grief and loss therapy, stress management counseling and more. We also have specialists in trauma and PTSD, women's issues, pregnancy and postpartum depression or anxiety, pregnancy loss and miscarriage, and birth trauma. For therapists, we can also provide clinical supervision! We look forward to connecting with you to help support your journey today.
Author Biography
Currently located in the beautiful beach town of Nha Trang, OMNIA Fitness represents the premier brand of personal and group training. We are neither a corporate mega gym, nor a small neighborhood gym. We are a class and style of our own, with 20+ years of experience and knowledge we set the international standard of quality personal training and group class programs in Nha Trang, Vietnam. With experience and dedication to the fitness industry, our team of fitness experts are excited and eager to help aid you in your journey to optimal health.