THE PUSH-UP CHALLENGE
The Push-Up Challenge is a chance to get fit, have fun and raise funds for mental health.
- Participants will sign up to do 2000 push-ups over 18 days in February, shining a light on the 2,000 lives lost to suicide everyday around the world.
- We share an important mental health fact each day of the challenge and that shapes the daily push-up target. There are also some rest days (aka catch-up days for some), plus a mobile app for logging push-ups.
- It’s free to sign up and we welcome whatever exercise participants are able to do. Think sit-ups, squats, knee push-ups, modified exercises – it all goes.
- Fundraising is optional but a great opportunity to support mental health. Funds raised for Canadian Mental Health help support critical programs and services that work to keep people out of crisis and support people of all ages with the mental health help they need, when they need it, wherever we are.
THE BENEFITS OF PUSHING FOR BETTER
The Push-Up Challenge offers our participants a chance to move their bodies, hone their mental health knowledge, and connect with community:
MOVEMENT
- Science tells us that moving your body improves psychological well-being and can reduce depression and anxiety.
- In some cases, exercise can be as effective as pharmaceuticals for treating depression and anxiety disorders.
- Movement boosts endorphins and endocannabinoids helping us relax, feel better and decrease cortisol, the stress hormone. It also increases production and use of dopamine and serotonin, which in turn increase our happiness.
- Regular exercise can increase blood flow to the brain, improve cognitive functioning and academic performance, boost self-esteem and a giving us a sense of self-efficacy.
- Short bursts of activity can disrupt negative thoughts. Meditative exercise, like yoga or tai chi, that encourages mindfulness, body awareness, changes in posture and breaking can reduce stress, depression and even PTSD, and bring a sense of peace.
The Push-Up Challenge offers a chance to set your own goal, move your body in your own way, and improve your physical and mental wellbeing.
https://www.thepushupchallenge.ca/
GET FIT
From 5-27 Feb, we’ll give you a daily push-up target (with a few rest days) to help you hit 2,000 push-ups in 23 days. Push-ups not for you? Try exercises like sit-ups, squats or lunges. Everyone can join in!
HAVE FUN
Get your friends, work, school, gym or sports club involved by creating a Team and pushing together. Start some friendly competition with your personalised Team leaderboard. Get pushing anytime, anywhere.
PUSH FOR BETTER
Start important mental health conversations with our daily Mental Health Facts. You can also raise critical funds for CMHA to improve mental health outcomes in Canada.
