#HealthyU is taking campus by storm. I thought it was time to get a student perspective on getting active and how a healthy lifestyle can improve your wellbeing and study.
#HealthyU is taking campus by storm, lots of you are getting involved in the campaign on social media and have been sending us in your daily steps on Twitter this week!
I thought it was time to get a student perspective on getting active and how a healthy lifestyle can improve your wellbeing and study. I spoke to 3rd Year Politics and International Student, Dani Duran, to see what she had to say about how exercise impacts her happiness!
Dani is a member of the Cheerleading Club and Diplomatic Society but likes to keep active and healthy in her spare time, check out her Instagram account @ddoyoudare to see her hints and tips on staying Healthy!
You’re a great believer in Health translating into happiness – what keeps you motivated to keep up your healthy lifestyle throughout the year?
My biggest motivation is the way exercise makes me feel. As a student we are constantly dealing with stress and it’s reached the point that for me exercise is like therapy. Its time I can dedicate to myself, whether it’s lifting weights or just doing some stretches. I do it to make me happy not as a punishment to look a certain way, and there is no greater motive than happiness.
What does your weekly routine look like in terms of exercise and being active?
I don’t recommend anyone to follow my exact routine because everyone is different and likes different things. However, I exercise six times a week and take a well-deserved rest day, sometimes two if I am sore. Twice a week I go to studios in London which have awesome fitness classes such as spin, HIIT, strength training etc. When I am in Egham though I like to create my own circuits and routines. Oh, I have my own weights and kettlebell in my room for when the cold weather gets me lazy.
What advice would you give to someone starting to make changes to their lifestyle this week?
Do it for you. Don’t do it because you hate your body, do it because you love it. The benefits of exercise are way beyond the physical. It literally transforms you into a stronger human not just physically but mentally. We are capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for… so stick to it, even when it burns a bit because once you realise what you can do, you will never give it up and you will keep coming back for more.
You have a huge following on Instagram! What kind of feedback/ comments do you get to your posts?
When I started my Instagram I wanted to make sure it was all about honesty. When talking about body image, food and exercise one has to be really careful because the fitness industry has a serious downside. In all my posts I try to emphasize that life is all about balance, that having abs is cool but that being in peace with yourself is better.
People respond well to the fact that I don’t hide my insecurities and my own struggles through this fitness journey. I will occasionally get comments about not being a vegan or my food choices, but my Instagram is my lifestyle and it is not for anyone to copy word by word. All I want is to inspire people to be the best versions of themselves, whether this is by having ten followers or 1000.
Thank you very much Dani for taking the time to talk to me and share your thoughts on Exercise and wellbeing!
Steff Milne
Co-President, Sports and Development