"It's Not About Exercise, It's About Movement" By Ed Knowles BSc Plus A 7 Minute Movement Video

The importance of exercise while revising for exams or during stressful times in our lives has been well documented. Like everything in our modern world, the information is only a google search or an Alexa ask away. However, science terminology likes to try and dazzle you into thinking it's smarter than it is by using words like “neurotransmitters” and “cognitive function”. These are just fancy ways of saying that when trying to study, exercise can:

  • Reduce stress
  • Help you focus for longer
  • Help your brain remember the information you’re looking at for longer

To some, being told you should make the time to exercise during revision season sounds about as much fun as, well, being told you should exercise as well as revise for exams. To others, it will come as a welcome break, a distraction, an opportunity to peal your bleary eyes away from computer screens and remind your body that it isn’t chair shaped.

For those of you who find the idea of a 1 minute plank more sweat inducing than sitting a 2 hour English literature exam, then let’s change the terminology. It's not exercise that’s important, it's movement. Does walking around the block with your friend or dog for 20 minutes count? Yes it does. Does leaving the room you study in to “yoga stretch” for 10 minutes count? Absolutely. What I’m trying to say is that your movement doesn’t need to be big. It doesn’t need to be a 5 mile run, a PB in your squat or a joint destroying CrossFit workout. While studying for her accountancy exams, my girlfriend used to take 10 minute breaks to dance around the room to Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off”. That song got very old, very quickly but it definitely helped to get the blood flowing and keep the brain focused.

Keeping that in mind, here are some movements you can do designed to release stress, increase blood flow and stimulate brain function during a break from revision. It’ll only take 7 minutes, enough time to eat and stay hydrated afterwards too (and everyone knows what they should be eating and drinking: chocolate, biscuits and fizzy drinks = bad, nuts, fruit and plenty of water = good).

 

About Ed Knowles:

Ed has degree in Health Science BSc, Level 3 Personal Training. 

He has been a personal trainer for more than 12 years, working in gyms, smaller studios and now he has set up his own business. He says "Personal Trainers and gyms have always loved to pigeon hole a PT’s abilities, but I see myself as great all rounder. I’ve worked with people training for endurance events such as marathons and triathlons, people recovering from injuries, people who what to loose weight and people who want to exercise to improve their mental health.

I think a good personal trainer is someone who has good all round knowledge and helps their clients become more confident in their ability to move. I hope that describes me and my attitude to working with people.Outside of exercise, I love a good movie and spending time with the family which includes my dog, Kipp, who demanded being in the picture!" 

Email: edjknowles@hotmail.comInstagram: ed_knowles