Soma Space in Oswestry combines strength training and psychotherapy to support mental and physical wellbeing. The centre was founded two years ago by psychotherapist and fitness instructor Kevin Braddock and personal trainer and trauma-informed strength coach Jo Hazell-Watkins. A £14,000 lottery grant will fund a 12-lesson online Movement for Mental Health programme focused on six basic movements to boost mental health. Prospective clients can self-refer or be referred by social care workers and GPs. Practical entry points include chair squats and short garden walks. Emphasis is on accessibility: a small private space and no special clothing are sufficient for starting to move.
Our tagline is movement for mental health. "We're interested in is the benefits of exercise on mental health, which sort of everybody knows about, but the question is how do you do it. "For somebody who might be struggling with mental illness or poor mental health, how do they go about starting to exercise? What do they do? Who with? Where?
As long as you've got a couple of metres square, or a garden, or a space where you feel comfortable to be in, you can start moving,
People could try a set of 10 squats just by sitting on a chair and getting back up again, or go for a walk 10 times around their garden,
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