How Nike Contributes to Improving Mental Health
Almost a decade ago Dr. Stephen Ilardi’s Ted Talk about depression laid out his research on lifestyle changes that improve mental well-being. Our brains have not evolved enough from our days as hunter-gatherers, making depression a symptom of our current lifestyle, according to Dr. Ilardi. Studying current-day hunter-gatherer groups, he finds the keys to a lifestyle with a lower incidence of depression. Some pillars mentioned are: good sleep, social interaction, sunlight, omega-3. Exercise was fairly high on the list, Dr. Ilardi claims that “exercise is medicine”. In his research he shows that hunter-gatherer groups currently exercise around 4 hours a day, by looking for food in their surroundings. In our modern lifestyle exercise is not as natural, often fully avoidable with UberEats delivering groceries, work from home and social media trying to replace real social interaction. Dr. Ilardi astutely notes that “everyone knows exercise is good for them […] many people have trouble making it happen”. That’s where Nike comes in, with their free-to-download Nike Running Club app, which makes running accessible to anyone.
A lot of exercise can be quite challenging to start. Most sports require team mates and opponents that are free on the same day. Going to the gym can be quite difficult for some people since they are unsure how to use equipment. Running, however, is completely free and everyone knows how to do the basics, it’s similar to walking... Running can be spontaneous and can be done in groups or solo. The Nike Running Club app (NRC), is a great way for newcomers to begin running. The platform features over 200 guided runs that include a pre-recorded audio guide to help you along the way. The runs all have a title and a purpose. There is, for example, the “first run”, the “second run” and the “next run”. These help you start and explain how to enjoy running so you keep coming back to the starting line. There are fast runs, long runs, short runs, interval runs and many more. Each of these runs is accompanied by a coach, more often than not it’s coach Bennett.
Coach Bennett’s energy and motivation is clearly felt on every run. It helps new runners feel like they can finish every run and be happy to start again in the future. A key to this is the running approach taken. The message from Nike is very clear, run in a way that you enjoy, and if you keep starting runs and completing them, you will get fitter and feel great. A lot of the runs include a mindfulness aspect, some even inviting guest speakers like Andy Puddicombe, co-founder of Headspace.
Some of the runs these two feature on are the “stress-free run”, the “big day run” and the “breaking through barriers run”. A key aspect of all runs on the app is the unspoken comparison between running and life. By reading, or listening, through the lines, most of the advice on how to run, can be applied to life as a whole.
The most important takeaway, is that running is only as hard as you make it. Running can be slower than walking and every run is a small improvement. If running can be consistently implemented, all those little improvements can go a long way. The important thing is to “just do it” and enjoy it. The runs are free on the app and the app is free to download. Of course there are a few instances where Coach Bennett advises you to buy the right running shoes and Nike’s patented Dri-FIT gear, but Nike is a business after all. Nonetheless, the Nike Running Club shows the power corporations have, to give back to the community in unique ways. For those readers that are flooded with doubt and skepticism: “I never ran”, “I could never do a 10 minute run”, my advice would be Just Try It.
