Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 107, June 2018 | Page 12

Beat the winter
slump this year
Humans are made to move.
In fact, our bodies are hard-
wired to be active and fluid.
This explains why we feel so
triumphant after a 5:00am
morning run, even if we were
tempted to rather stay in. We
have more energy, we may
lose some unwanted weight
and even our mood improves.
According to Prof Martin Schwellnus, Director of the
Institute for Sport, Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle
Research at the University of Pretoria, humans are
genetically programmed to be physically active
every day. “If we don’t stay active, we quickly feel the
detrimental effects on our overall health and physiology.
The benefits of physical activity in the scientific
and medical literature are at this point absolutely
undisputed as a vital component of health,” he says.
But winter has a way of messing with our plans to stick
to an exercise routine, especially if it involves exercising
outside. Discovery Vitality, South Africa’s leading
wellness programme, typically sees a drop of 9% in gym
visits during winter.
Starting your journey towards a healthier, happier you
can be a complicated road, made more difficult during
the colder months. The Discovery Store, based in
Sandton, Pretoria, Umhlanga, Sea Point and Sable Park
offers full-time Discovery consultants who are available
to provide expert, face-to-face help with fitness and
health assessments, wearable devices, nutrition and
what the world of Vitality has to offer.
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ISSUE 107 JUNE 2018 / www.modernathlete.co.za