ASICS recently introduced the 15:09 Uplift Challenge on Global Running Day (1 June) – to challenge more people to get out and move for 15:09 minutes.
You’re probably wondering – what is the significance of 15:09 minutes? In its first global live study, The Mind Uplifter™, ASICS explored the impact of physical inactivity on the mind. 10 months into its research, initial results have shown that only 15:09 minutes of exercise is needed to significantly uplift our mental wellbeing. This not only proves the direct link between exercise and mental health, but also debunks the popular thinking that 30 minutes of exercise is the minimum amount of time required to experience an uplifted mental state.
For the entire month of June, the ASICS 15:09 Uplift Challenge hopes to inspire more people to move. To participate:
- Simply show us how you move to uplift your mind on your social media platform (TikTok, Instagram, Facebook). For every public post, ASICS will donate $5 to the Singapore Association for Mental Health in support of mental health.
- To qualify for the donation, include the hashtags #ASICSforSAMH, #LiveUplifted, #ASICSforMind in your video or photo post.
- Tag a friend and challenge them to do the same!
The Mind Race: just one week of inactivity significantly lowers our state of mind
Professor Brendon Stubbs, a leading researcher in movement and the mind, monitored the State of Mindivscoresof healthy participantsvwho agreed to pause their regular exercise routines for just one week. The results are significant with both their cognitive and emotional wellbeing being impacted.When active people stopped moving, their confidence dropped by 20%;positivity fell by 16%, energy levels slumped by 23% and their ability to cope with stress reduced by 22%.
In fact, after just one week of no exercise, participants’overall Stateof Mind score dropped by an average of 18% -decreasing from a high 68 out of 100 when physically active to a mediocre 55 out of 100 when they stopped exercising. The effects of this inactivity arecaptured in the Mind Race experiment film (above),following a group of study participants.
Commenting on the results, Professor Brendon Stubbs said: “We know that exercise is good for our mental healthbut the impact of rest and restarting exercise is less clear. Now, thanks to new technology and the contribution of thousands of people, we’ve been able to pinpoint just how much exercise is needed to trigger a positive mental impact. This ASICS study helps to quantify the amountof exercise to improve mental health and make it more tangible.Taking time to rest is very important. This novel study shows that people’s wellbeing bounces back very quickly after a period of rest when people resume regular exercise again.”
Gary Raucher, EVP, ASICS EMEA said: “Our founding philosophy is literally in our name, Anima Sana In Corpore Sano or a Sound Mind in aSound Body. And we believe our focus on the benefits of sport and movement, not just on the body,but also on the mind, has never been more relevant. We know the last two years have been tough on the mental state of many. And while not the answer for everyone, we know exercise can make a difference. We hope to inspire more people to move with ASICS, even for just 15.09 minutes to feel the benefits on body and mind.”
To be part of ASICS’ongoing Uplifting Minds Study and see the impact of exercise on your own State of Mind, visit https://minduplifter.asics.com/
Images and Video: ASICS
