USING EXERCISE TO BEAT LONELINESS
As we struggle under the
weight of a global pandemic , another devastating battle rages behind closed doors . Loneliness and isolation are not new problems . They are , though , problems that have been amplified by the conditions we find ourselves living in .
Rosaria Barreto , BSc ( Hons ) Exercise and Fitness Management ’ 18 is the University of Portsmouth graduate determined to tackle the pain of loneliness - through exercise . Her dream ? To transform communities through the benefits of better physical and mental health .
The seeds for her unusual enterprise model were sown when Rosaria was still a Portsmouth undergrad . For her professional development unit , she took the plunge and set up her own business - Vitality Hub - which she was able to keep going after graduation , helped by ongoing support from lecturers and the Student Start-up team . And while Vitality Hub may have started as a regular personal training business , she has applied a few of the things she learned at uni to steer it in an exciting new direction .
“ Whilst I was doing a unit of the degree called ‘ physical activity prescription and promotion ’,
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I really fell in love with the idea of supporting people who struggle with their health and may have specific clinical conditions that prevent them from doing exercise . A GP referral qualification gave me the experience and the knowledge to go out in the world and work with people who suffer from arthritis , lower back pain , lung disease and a few other health conditions ” she explains .
This new-found passion led Rosaria to really focus on clinical exercise . Starting with one-to-one clients , she ’ s gone on to work with organisations like care homes , private hospitals and , most recently , Kent Sport and the Kent Centre for Independent Living . She ’ s been working with Age UK to provide therapeutic exercise videos on Instagram and Facebook during the pandemic .
Through her work in clinical exercise , Rosaria discovered that those needing her expertise are often isolated and lonely . This is particularly true of the elderly who lose friends and family as they age . It ’ s also true of those who suffer from clinical conditions that limit their ability to fit in or connect with others .
During the COVID19 pandemic , isolation has been heightened for many people . A pandemic of its own , you might say , and Rosaria felt the need to do something about it , by raising awareness of the importance of exercise in care , longevity , and ageing communities . Even more , she started a crowdfunding campaign and has raised over £ 8,000 to finance the realisation of her vision for a virtual exercise support system focused on coping with loneliness .
Rosaria set up Mature Movers to tackle social isolation and prevent chronic disease in later life , through exercise . She has created a virtual community of over 60s who participate in exercise classes , followed by group catch ups where participants talk about what ’ s happening in their lives . Here , they deal with their feelings of loneliness and isolation .
“ That ’ s where it is now ,” Rosaria explains , “ but I ’ m hoping for it to grow and to just build that online community of 60 + year-olds who want to connect with other health-conscious individuals and create longlasting and meaningful friendships .”
With Mature Movers on its way , Rosaria is now looking to go one step further . She ’ s developing a digital tool tailored to clinical health that will enable her to reach a larger audience , encouraging wellness and changing lives . She ’ s working with the University of Portsmouth ’ s SIGHT ( Supporting Innova-