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High profile athletes, celebrity chefs, musicians, senior business executives, health experts, and creative writers are backing Exercise and Sports Science Australia’s annual campaign - Exercise Awareness Month – all sharing their reasons for exercising and inspire the masses to get moving.

A range of influencers including cricketer Holly Ferling, rugby sevens player Tiana Penitani and Olympic medallist Melissa Wu, through to musician Airling, writer Ben Law and celebrity chef Hayden Quinn are backing Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) in a call for all Australians to get behind its ‘30 Days, 30 Reasons to Exercise’ campaign, which raises awareness of the many benefits of exercise and runs throughout November.

With a particular focus on profiling emerging women in sport and industry this year, ESSA Chief Executive Anita Hobson-Powell hopes the campaign will also encourage further exercise participation in young women, who are reported to be half as active as their male counterparts.

Hobson-Powell explains “research shows that many young Australian women don't feel they can be physically active.

 “This is resulting in more than two-thirds of adult Australian females being classified as being sedentary or having low levels of exercise.

“We hope that by celebrating successful female talent and uncovering some of the lesser known benefits of physical activity, the campaign will inspire a new generation of women to move.”

Exercise Right spokesperson Alex Lawrence stated “while we all know participating in regular physical activity can lower your risk of developing a number of chronic conditions, reduce stress and enhance your overall health and fitness level, many people find they also reap a number of other benefits from exercising.”

Australian cricketer Holly Ferling said exercise assisted her with everything from goal setting and focus, right through to finding relaxation and mindfulness in times of stress, commenting “I enjoy exercise as it’s a way for me to forget everything that’s happening in our busy lives and allows me to focus on the task ahead, whether that be just watching the spot where I want to bowl or trying to beat personal bests in the gym.

“One of my favourite exercises is yoga. I love being able to switch off, relax and take my body through a session. In times of stress, yoga helps me to stay in the present and not get too absorbed in the days or weeks ahead,” says Ms Ferling.

But even Ferling admits that  an elite athlete can find it hard to muster up motivation at times, however, the unforgettable feeling she gets after exercise always makes it worth it.

“I don’t think anyone in any of my teams enjoys running but I think we are all equally addicted to the feeling after you finish a session. You could be exhausted but at the same time you feel 100% better than what you did at the start.”

Women's National AFL player and Brisbane Lions recruit Sabrina Frederick-Traub not only echoes the physical and mental health benefits as a reason to exercise but shared how exercise and sport participation had a greater purpose in the community.

She explains “exercise and sport participation in Australia is important not only because it affects your physical and mental health, but it has the ability to make you feel a part of something greater.

“Sport has allowed me to create a life without a cultural barrier and has given people an opportunity to assess me based on my on-field ability."

For further information and to get involved, visit www.exerciseright.com.au/30for30 or www.facebook.com/exerciserightaustralia during November. 

8th September 2016 - EXERCISE & SPORTS SCIENCE AUSTRALIA URGES AUSTRALIANS TO RECONNECT ON R U OK? DAY

14th June 2016 - EXERCISE & SPORTS SCIENCE AUSTRALIA URGES POLITICAL PARTIES TO FOCUS ON HEALTH

23rd May 2016 - ESSA URGES AUSTRALIANS TO UNDERTAKE THE RIGHT KIND OF EXERCISE

5th November 2015 - CELEBRITY BACKED EXERCISE CAMPAIGN UP AND RUNNING

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