Spring is here so we can start to enjoy longer days and anticipate warmer weather. In this month’s series, Louise O’Driscoll, Xen-Do’s affiliated Holistic Health Coach, gives us some top tips and suggestions for making the most of the change in the seasons.

Get outdoors.

Now that we are enjoying the benefits of Spring arriving, make the most of the milder weather and get outside for a break at least once a day. Nobody is so busy or indispensable that they shouldn’t prioritise this.

Taking a 20 minute walk, or even just sitting and relaxing in a green space outside once a day will help prevent depression, heighten your focus at work, improve your quality of sleep and strengthen your immune system, all of which will benefit your Xen-Do kickboxing and martial arts training!

By ensuring you have a little exposed skin – with no sunscreen or make up, just rolling your sleeve up to your elbows is enough – you will also top up your Vitamin D levels which are vital for optimum health, including preventing cancer, hormonal problems, obesity, and inflammation.

Sensei Denise Bailey agrees, ‘Vitamin D is vital to maintain healthy bones and therefore it is important for Xen-Do Kickboxing and Martial Arts students to follow Louise’s advice and get out into the sunshine – safely.’

For best results leave your smart phone behind and enjoy the welcome relief from the constant noise and distraction of electronic media that adds to our stress levels. Follow Dai Master Raf’s advice and practice your basic Kickboxing and Martial Arts moves over and over again so they become intuitive and water like ‘beautiful movements’.

On the weekend, get outside for a longer walk, a game in the park, a run, play tennis or football or bike ride. Alternatively, gardening provides amazing physical and mental health benefits if you have the opportunity and you can even start growing your own food and herbs.

For bonus points if you can make it to the coast, studies prove that being outside near a natural body of water has maximum ‘outdoor impact’ on our sense of wellbeing and as Dai Master Raf says ‘a healthy lifestyle supported by Xen-Do both on and off the dojo makes everyone fit for the life they want to lead’.

Follow Louise in part two as she looks at how we can keep on track with our healthy eating plans.

Louise O’Driscoll is a health coach and Certified Eating Psychology Coach at Natural Balance Coaching. She offers a free initial consultation and discounted rates to Xen-Do Kickboxing and Martial Arts students so if you feel you could benefit from some personalised guidance on making positive healthy changes in your diet or lifestyle, drop her an email to arrange a chat!

This article is based on opinion:
– the author is not a qualified doctor or anyone who can dispense medical advice.
– any opinions stated are just that and people should consult a doctor before making any dietary changes or changes of any nature prompted by the articles published by or on behalf of Xen-Do.
– under 16’s please obtain parental permission before posting anything online.
– any opinions stated are that of the author and do not represent the opinions of Xen-Do.