Sport & Exercise

Boost Your Mood

Keeping active is not only vital for your physical health but can boost your mood, making you happier and healthier, and is one of the five steps that evidence shows we can take to improve our mental wellbeing. This spring we're encouraging our whole community to get active and try some of the other steps too.

The five ways to wellbeing
1. Connect

4. Give to others

2. Be active 5. Take notice
3. Keep learning  
Get Active and Boost your mood

Opportunities to be active and connect

Being active and building connections with people around you will support and enrich you every day. Here are some of the opportunities we have coming up where you can get active and connect with our community.

Feel Good Walks

University of Edinburgh staff and students are invited to come for a lunchtime Feel Good walk to help boost your mood.

Upcoming sessions: 

  • Monday 15 May from 12:30pm to 1:15pm at Pleasance 
  • Tuesday 16 May from 12:30pm to 1:15pm  at Easter Bush campus (campus litter pick)
  • Tuesday 23 May from 12:30pm to 1:15pm at Central Campus
  • Tuesday 30 May from 12:30pm to 1:15pm at Kings Buildings ​

Find out more and book your place

Just Play Sport Sessions 

Sport & physical activity can help us feel happier, healthier and more connected, so why not join us at our just play sport sessions?

Our Just Play sport sessions are open to all students and staff at the university and are an opportunity to try a new sport, get active and make new friends. Plus, they’re FREE! 

All sessions will provide students and staff with the chance to play some fun sport and a basketball coach will be present to lead the session. Sessions will be suitable for all abilities. 

Upcoming sessions: 

  • Friday 19 May from 12pm to 1pm: Basketball
  • Friday 2 June from 12pm to 1pm: Netball & Badminton
  • Friday 23 June from 12pm to 1pm:  Volleyball & Badminton
  • Monday 17 July from 12pm to 1pm: Basketball

Where: Sports Hall at the Pleasance Sports Complex & Gym

Find out more and book your place

Further opportunities to be active

Opportunities to take notice and keep learning

Being aware of the world around you and what you are feeling, and reflecting on your experiences can help you appreciate what matters and learning new things can help with your confidence as well as being fun. We have lots of opportunities to try something new.

Firbush May Skills Course Weekend

This year the skills course weekend will be running from Friday 19 to Sunday 21 May 2023. The specialised skills courses are ideal for people who want to take their passion to the next level. There are a number of courses to choose from including paddle sports, windsurfing, sailing or navigation & hill skills. Your meals, accommodation, equipment and tuition are all included.

Find out more about the courses at  Firbush

Gym Instructor Level 2 Course

This is the ideal starting point for those wanting to work in the health and fitness industry. The 4 day course has been developed to meet the latest fitness industry standards and enables learners to develop the knowledge and skills to engage, facilitate, educate and support clients in a gym or health club environment. 

When: 27, 28 May, 3 & 4 June (assessment on 16 or 17 June)

Where: Easter Bush Gym & Pleasance

Price: £429 for students / £489 for non-students

Find out more about the Gym Instructor course

Give Climbing a try

During Mental Health Awareness Week the Climbing Wall is offering FREE climbing wall taster sessions:

View and book your free session here

The Climbing Wall team also run a variety of courses and workshops for beginners as well as more advanced climbers.

Find out more about climbing courses 

Opportunities to give to others

Doing something nice for a friend or stranger, or volunteering for a larger cause, can have a huge impact on other people, as well as helping you in looking after your wellbeing.

Sign up for  a sponsored event or challenge 

Discover what challenges you can take part in with the University

Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from the 15 to 21 May and the theme this year is 'anxiety'. The biggest problem with anxiety is our response to it. It’s very tempting to avoid nerve-wracking situations because we think we can’t cope. https://togetherall.com/en-gb/  That's why we want to share Togetherall's 4 tips for managing symptoms of anxiety.