The global pandemic is the greatest crisis humanity has faced since AIDS emerged in the 1980s. However, you have to go back to the Second World War to find a crisis that upended the economics of the entire planet and enacted a reign of terror across the world. The fact that so many people have shared the stresses of the pandemic, from the loss of loved ones to the anxieties and sense of isolation caused by having to stay cooped up at home for months on end, has made more people aware of the importance of their mental health and wellbeing. Having shared this unique moment, there is more openness around conversations on mental health and wellbeing. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 4 out of 10 adults in America report depressive disorder or anxiety symptoms and other adverse mental health problems. These problems include difficulty eating or sleeping, consuming more alcohol, more significant substance abuse, and intensifying chronic conditions due to worry and stress. In an article for The Drum, Ellen Ormesher discusses how Asics uses the link between physical health and mental health to improve mental health.
Ormesher speaks to Gary Raucher, Asics’ executive vice-president and head of product, marketing, and merchandising for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). He explained that Asics has always believed in the importance of that great relationship between physical and mental health. The brand is not just about physical health. It firmly believes that improving physical health can directly lead to improving your mental health. Indeed, Asics is an acronym for “Anima Sana in Corpore Sano,” Latin for “healthy body, healthy mind.” It is harder to find a more convincing testament to the brand’s commitment to improving overall health.
The pandemic has been stressful for most people on the planet. There have been over 4 million deaths and more than 190 million cases across the world. Added to that, billions of people have feared getting Covid-19. In addition, billions of people have suffered from social isolation and the absence of physical touch due to lockdowns and social distancing. What has made this such an overwhelming event for many is that the crisis came when mental health was already becoming a huge problem. The pandemic was not the straw that broke the camel’s back. Perhaps it was the asteroid that broke the camel’s back, but the back was already hurting.
People have turned to sports to cope with the stresses of the pandemic, and it has been a great relief. Others have visited spas, knowing that a relaxed body will relax their mind, and this has made dermani Medspa Franchising more valuable than ever.
Asics have worked to help people understand how exercise can improve their mental health. For instance, the company has been conducting a live study into how movement impacts the mind. In furtherance of this study, they have developed the Asics Mind Uplifter Tool, which helps users see how physical activity is helping their mood. It is great to see that the world is taking mental health more seriously.