Thirty-one-year old Ines Alcolea ditched the bustling Madrid life in October for a village near the much quieter medieval town of Toledo, unable to face the prospect of more COVID-19 restrictions in her small flat in the Spanish capital.

Spain's hard-pressed millennials are giving up on the city amid COVID

Roiled by concerns about the pandemic and politics? Lifting weights might help, according to a timely new study of anxiety and resistance training. The study, which involved healthy young adults, barbells and lunges, indicates that regular weight training substantially reduces anxiety, a finding with particular relevance during these unsettling, bumpy days.

We already have plenty of evidence that exercise helps stave off depression and other mental ills, and that exercise can elevate feelings of happiness and contentment. But most past studies of exercise and moods have looked at the effects of aerobic exercise, like running on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike.

Scientists only recently have begun to investigate whether and how weight training might also affect mental health. A 2018 review of studies, for instance, concluded that adults who lift weights are less likely to develop depression than those who never lift. In another study, women with clinical anxiety disorders reported fewer symptoms after taking up either aerobic or weight training.

But many of these studies involved frequent and complicated sessions of resistance exercise performed under the eyes of researchers, which is not how most of us are likely to work out. They also often focused on somewhat narrow groups, such as men or women with a diagnosed mental health condition like depression or an anxiety disorder, limiting their applicability.

So for the new study, which was published in October in Scientific Reports, researchers at the University of Limerick in Ireland and other institutions decided to see if a simple version of weight training could have benefits for mood in people who already were in generally good mental health.

To find out, they recruited 28 physically healthy young men and women and tested their current moods, with a particular emphasis on whether the volunteers felt anxious. All the participants scored in a healthy range on detailed anxiety questionnaires.

The scientists then divided these well-adjusted volunteers into two groups. Half were asked to continue with their normal lives as a control group. The others began to weight train, a practice with which few were familiar.

The scientists had devised a helpfully simple resistance training routine for them, based around health guidelines from the World Health Organization and the American College of Sports Medicine. Both those organizations recommend muscle strengthening at least twice a week, and that’s what the volunteers began doing. After initial instruction from the researchers, the volunteers took up a basic program of lunges, lifts, squats and crunches, sometimes using dumbbells and other equipment.

Their training continued for eight weeks. Throughout, both groups periodically repeated the tests of their anxiety levels, including at the end of the full program. (After the study ended, the control group was given the option of starting the weight training routine.)

As expected, the control group, for the most part, retained their original low levels of anxiety. They still felt about as tranquil as eight weeks before.

But the weight trainers scored about 20% better on the tests of anxiety. They had started with low levels of anxiety to begin with, but felt even less anxious afterward.

This effect was “larger than anticipated,” said Brett Gordon, currently a postdoctoral scholar at the Penn State Cancer Institute at Penn State College of Medicine, who was an author of the study with Matthew Herring, Cillian McDowell and Mark Lyons. The benefits for mental health were greater, in fact, than those often seen in studies of aerobic exercise and anxiety. But Gordon cautions that such comparisons are limited, since the various experiments use different amounts of exercise and measures of moods.

The new study also did not delve into how weight training can affect anxiety. But Gordon and his colleagues suspect increased physical and psychological potency figure in. The lifters became stronger over time and able to lift heavier weights. “Feelings of mastery may have occurred” then, he said, leaving people feeling generally more capable of coping. Molecular changes in the lifters’ muscles and brains probably also occurred and contributed to improvements in their moods, he said, noting that future studies may help to detail some of those changes.

Or course, this experiment featured only healthy young people performing one version of training, so the findings cannot tell us if lifting likewise eases anxiety in older people. Nor can it tell us which regimen might be enough, too much or just the right amount to bolster mental health. Finally, it also does not prove that heading to the gym today can acutely soothe any mental turmoil we may be feeling, since the improvements in the study showed up after weeks of training.

But if you are feeling tense and uptight, as so many of us are these days, becoming stronger is probably a worthwhile goal and need not be intimidating, Gordon said. “There are numerous ways to strength train with little to no equipment,” he said. “Try common body weight exercises, such as pushups, situps or squats, or use household items as weights.”

Roiled by concerns about the pandemic and politics? Lifting weights might help, according to a timely new study of anxiety and resistance training. The study, which involved healthy young adults, barbells and lunges, indicates that regular weight training substantially reduces anxiety, a finding with particular relevance during these unsettling, bumpy days.

Roiled by concerns about the pandemic and politics? Lifting weights might help, according to a timely new study of anxiety and resistance training. The study, which involved healthy young adults, barbells and lunges, indicates that regular weight training substantially reduces anxiety, a finding with particular relevance during these unsettling, bumpy days. We already have plenty of evidence that exercise helps stave off depression and other mental ills, and that exercise can elevate feelings of happiness and contentment. But most past studies of exercise and moods have looked at the effects of aerobic exercise, like running on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike. Scientists only recently have begun to investigate whether and how weight training might also affect mental health. A 2018 review of studies, for instance, concluded that adults who lift weights are less likely to develop depression than those who never lift. In another study, women with clinical anxiety disorders reported fewer symptoms after taking up either aerobic or weight training. But many of these studies involved frequent and complicated sessions of resistance exercise performed under the eyes of researchers, which is not how most of us are likely to work out. They also often focused on somewhat narrow groups, such as men or women with a diagnosed mental health condition like depression or an anxiety disorder, limiting their applicability. So for the new study, which was published in October in Scientific Reports, researchers at the University of Limerick in Ireland and other institutions decided to see if a simple version of weight training could have benefits for mood in people who already were in generally good mental health. To find out, they recruited 28 physically healthy young men and women and tested their current moods, with a particular emphasis on whether the volunteers felt anxious. All the participants scored in a healthy range on detailed anxiety questionnaires. The scientists then divided these well-adjusted volunteers into two groups. Half were asked to continue with their normal lives as a control group. The others began to weight train, a practice with which few were familiar. The scientists had devised a helpfully simple resistance training routine for them, based around health guidelines from the World Health Organization and the American College of Sports Medicine. Both those organizations recommend muscle strengthening at least twice a week, and that’s what the volunteers began doing. After initial instruction from the researchers, the volunteers took up a basic program of lunges, lifts, squats and crunches, sometimes using dumbbells and other equipment. Their training continued for eight weeks. Throughout, both groups periodically repeated the tests of their anxiety levels, including at the end of the full program. (After the study ended, the control group was given the option of starting the weight training routine.) As expected, the control group, for the most part, retained their original low levels of anxiety. They still felt about as tranquil as eight weeks before. But the weight trainers scored about 20% better on the tests of anxiety. They had started with low levels of anxiety to begin with, but felt even less anxious afterward. This effect was “larger than anticipated,” said Brett Gordon, currently a postdoctoral scholar at the Penn State Cancer Institute at Penn State College of Medicine, who was an author of the study with Matthew Herring, Cillian McDowell and Mark Lyons. The benefits for mental health were greater, in fact, than those often seen in studies of aerobic exercise and anxiety. But Gordon cautions that such comparisons are limited, since the various experiments use different amounts of exercise and measures of moods. The new study also did not delve into how weight training can affect anxiety. But Gordon and his colleagues suspect increased physical and psychological potency figure in. The lifters became stronger over time and able to lift heavier weights. “Feelings of mastery may have occurred” then, he said, leaving people feeling generally more capable of coping. Molecular changes in the lifters’ muscles and brains probably also occurred and contributed to improvements in their moods, he said, noting that future studies may help to detail some of those changes. Or course, this experiment featured only healthy young people performing one version of training, so the findings cannot tell us if lifting likewise eases anxiety in older people. Nor can it tell us which regimen might be enough, too much or just the right amount to bolster mental health. Finally, it also does not prove that heading to the gym today can acutely soothe any mental turmoil we may be feeling, since the improvements in the study showed up after weeks of training. But if you are feeling tense and uptight, as so many of us are these days, becoming stronger is probably a worthwhile goal and need not be intimidating, Gordon said. “There are numerous ways to strength train with little to no equipment,” he said. “Try common body weight exercises, such as pushups, situps or squats, or use household items as weights.”

Weight training may help ease anxiety

Hit by a plunge in turnover after foreign tourists vanished, Michelin-starred Hungarian restaurant Costes has staged a skyline dining event on the Budapest Eye ferris wheel to generate sales in a coronavirus-proof environment.

Hungarian restaurant reinvents the wheel for social distancing

Sheepskins and heated glass booths is a way to attract diners who would normally stay away out of fear to catch the coronavirus, a restaurant in southern Germany has found.

German restaurant fights coronavirus crisis with sheepskins, heated glass booths

There was no catwalk for French fashion house Schiaparelli who showcased its third ready-to-wear collection on Sunday (October 4), featuring a sleek wardrobe with surrealist touches for next summer.

Schiaparelli's surrealism comes alive for Paris Fashion Week

A Brazilian restaurant has opened a new outdoor dining space amid the coronavirus pandemic, offering small cabins built for families that are in keeping with social distancing norms.

Brazil restaurant installs glass cabins to shield diners from virus

French fashion label AMI pushed the boat out for its latest fashion show in Paris on Saturday - hosting its catwalk display on the banks of the Seine river at dusk.

Parisian label AMI parades models by the Seine for fashion week

Pubs, bars and restaurants throughout Britain got to grips with new operating restrictions on Thursday (September 24) after they were introduced by the government to curb rising COVID-19 infections.

British bars and pubs adapt to new coronavirus rules

Victoria Beckham premiered her "eclectic" new designs in a catwalk video for her Spring/Summer 2021 collection.

Victoria Beckham showcases "true wardrobe" collection for Spring/Summer 2021

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, California residents are now seeking refuge from a heat wave with the National Weather Service warning that "sweltering" conditions could fuel fires already burning in the state.

Beachgoers seek relief as heat wave bakes California

No air kissing and no hugs, a safely distanced front row and face masks were de rigueur as Dolce & Gabbana had to rewrite the rules of high-end fashion engagement with one of the first physical shows of the COVID-19 era on Wednesday (July 15).

Masked fashionistas and distant models, D&G launches the COVID-era catwalk

Nothing could keep New York resident Susan Warren away from her favorite hair salon, Julien Farel Restore Salon & Spa on Manhattan's Upper East Side, when it reopened on Monday (June 22).

With 1,200 people on the waiting list, $1,000 haircut salon reopens in New York

After more than 100 days of a coronavirus lockdown, New York City residents on Monday (June 22) celebrated the lifting of more restrictions by getting their first haircuts in months, shopping at reopened stores, and dining at outdoor cafes.

As outdoor dining reopens in New York, cafe owner says: 'We suffered a lot'

Belgium allowed almost all businesses to reopen on Monday (June 8), including bars and restaurants, but social distancing measures must remain.

Belgians return to bars, restaurants but not without virus fears

Footprints stamped the auburn beaches of a Western French city on Wednesday (May 13) for the first time in months as the first beaches in the country reopened to the public during the country's gradual deconfinement period.

First beaches reopen as France softens virus lockdown

While the coronavirus pandemic continues to keep most in lockdown, extreme athletes find creative ways to keep fit and healthy.

Extreme athletes share their creative lockdown training routines

An online drinking party service has gained popularity after the Japanese government urged people to stay at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

Japanese online drinking party service becomes sensational hit amid virus lockdown

A day after exiting an eight-week coronavirus lockdown, Parisians are already making their way back to cosmetics stores and beauty parlours on Tuesday (May 12), ready to glam up for the outside world again even from under their face masks.

Pampering time: Parisians seek post-lockdown beauty upgrade

A Swedish couple has opened a "COVID-19-safe" restaurant in a meadow with one chair and one table and on Sunday (May 10) the "Table for One" pop-up restaurant welcomed its first guest.

COVID-19-safe pop-up restaurant opens in meadow with one chair, one table

Crowds of people flocked to a restaurant in Castel Rock, Colorado after it reopened for Mother's Day on Sunday (May 10), defying social distancing rules that were put in place to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Crowds pack Colorado restaurant defying coronavirus restrictions

Israel partly reopened nurseries and kindergartens on Sunday (May 10), increasing the number of children who have returned to daycare as part of efforts to revive the economy as coronavirus worries subside.

Preschoolers return as Israel further eases coronavirus curbs

For third-generation hawker Kristen Choong, the coronavirus pandemic wasn't the end of the world, but it hasn't been great for business. In early April, the beginning of Singapore's "circuit breaker", a self-styled lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus, business for her noodle stand fell about 90%.

Last generation Singapore hawker weathers the pandemic storm

As the world observes the International Day for Monuments and Sites, also known as World Heritage Day on 18 April, we bring you top 5 breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Sites that are worth visiting.

Top 5 World Heritage Sites to Visit

Baker Mohammed Al-Khatib has added some new wares to his shop in Khan Younis: a range of “coronavirus” cakes. Khatib said on Wednesday (April 1) that the sweet treats in the shape of a child wearing a mask intended to raise awareness about precautions during the coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus bakes selling like hot cakes in Gaza

Through war or through a coronavirus curfew, Syrian gym coaches Reem al-Shami and Fadi Barakat say they will never stop exercising.

Can't stop, won't stop: Syrian gym coaches stay fit

Two Iraqi weightlifters have turned a rooftop in the northern city of Dohuk into a mini-gym hall to practice, after the government ordered shut gyms to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Iraqi weightlifters turn rooftop into gym amid coronavirus fears

Komaki Yamashita and her daughter Konoha are both classical Japanese dance students and as they were forced to stay indoors during this period, they have been taking dance lessons from home using webcams and tablets.

Japanese classical dancer offers live-streaming lessons during coronavirus lockdown

Tango classes, shows and milongas - traditional tango gatherings - have been suspended in capital Buenos Aires for at least 15 days as the dance community follows the government's lead in banning public events.

Argentine tango faces curbs as coronavirus spreads

Some Greeks headed to the beach on Saturday (March 14) after the government imposed further measures to halt the impact of coronavirus.

Greeks head to beach as cafes, taverns, malls, shut down over virus

Louis Vuitton wrapped up Paris Fashion week on Tuesday with a mix-up of retro-chic, sporty and futuristic looks set to a baroque soundtrack sung by a choir in costume. 
 
Plunged into darkness, the audience inside the Louvre's Court Carree gasped as the curtain rose to reveal a terraced backdrop with hundreds of singers dressed in period costumes from the 15th century to the 1950s.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/christian-dior-plays-with-1970s-influences-at-paris-fashion-week-282795">Christian Dior plays with 1970s influences at Paris Fashion Week</a>

The first models strutted down the catwalk in buffed-up petticoats and voluminous, multicoloured jackets, in a collection designer Nicolas Ghesquiere called "Collisions of Time".&nbsp; 
 
<img alt="luis" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2cafed76-0c62-40c1-ae5a-cc39785ecf86" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%2893%29.jpg" /> 
 
In front of an audience that included the A-list actresses Léa Seydoux, Alicia Vikander and Florence Pugh, models also wore sport-inspired outfits styled on bomber jackets, mechanic overalls and embroidered bullfighter`s boleros.

<img alt="paris" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0b1c1e6f-69b8-496c-b2c9-06c70dcea25d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%2894%29.jpg" /> 
 
"This collection is the anti-total-look," Gesquiere said in the show notes. "Functional clothing can be ceremonial dress and vice versa. I want it to be open, energetic and spontaneous." 
 
Louis Vuitton, the flagship brand of the world's biggest luxury group LVMH , closed the Paris Fashion Week. This catwalk season has been disrupted by the fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak which kept Chinese buyers, journalists and socialites from European fashion events. 
 
French labels Agnes b. and A.P.C had to cancel their presentation in Paris while in Milan, Giorgio Armani held its show behind closed doors. 
 
Prada and Gucci have already postponed their upcoming cruise 2021 show, initially planned in May, due to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/indian-automakers-say-china-coronavirus-outbreak-hitting-parts-supply-283591">coronavirus outbreak.</a>

Louis Vuitton wrapped up Paris Fashion week on Tuesday with a mix-up of retro-chic, sporty and futuristic looks set to a baroque soundtrack sung by a choir in costume.

Louis Vuitton wrapped up Paris Fashion week on Tuesday with a mix-up of retro-chic, sporty and futuristic looks set to a baroque soundtrack sung by a choir in costume. Plunged into darkness, the audience inside the Louvre's Court Carree gasped as the curtain rose to reveal a terraced backdrop with hundreds of singers dressed in period costumes from the 15th century to the 1950s. Also read: Christian Dior plays with 1970s influences at Paris Fashion Week The first models strutted down the catwalk in buffed-up petticoats and voluminous, multicoloured jackets, in a collection designer Nicolas Ghesquiere called "Collisions of Time". In front of an audience that included the A-list actresses Léa Seydoux, Alicia Vikander and Florence Pugh, models also wore sport-inspired outfits styled on bomber jackets, mechanic overalls and embroidered bullfighter`s boleros. "This collection is the anti-total-look," Gesquiere said in the show notes. "Functional clothing can be ceremonial dress and vice versa. I want it to be open, energetic and spontaneous." Louis Vuitton, the flagship brand of the world's biggest luxury group LVMH , closed the Paris Fashion Week. This catwalk season has been disrupted by the fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak which kept Chinese buyers, journalists and socialites from European fashion events. French labels Agnes b. and A.P.C had to cancel their presentation in Paris while in Milan, Giorgio Armani held its show behind closed doors. Prada and Gucci have already postponed their upcoming cruise 2021 show, initially planned in May, due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Louis Vuitton's clash of styles wraps up Paris Fashion Week

Riga residents joined a yoga class with a twist on Saturday (February 29) performing their poses while sipping from bottles of beer.

Latvians sip on beers in yoga class with a tipsy twist

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