EARLIER this week one of my clients burst into tears just a few minutes into her session.

Most personal trainers will probably tell you that this is a fairly common occurrence.

Clients often see us as confidants and over the years I have found myself being privy to issues that can be difficult to handle for the client and also for me as a trainer.

But surely our job is to deal with the physical not the mental, right? Well...not entirely, no. The best personal trainers deal with the whole client, and that includes their mental as well as physical health and wellbeing.

I’ll be honest. Often these occasions can be uncomfortable and difficult to deal with, and I am in no way qualified to be offering out advice on any issues to do with mental health or the causes of any issues.

But what I have found over the years is that by the end of the session the client will leave feeling better, safe in the knowledge that I will be in touch with them later just to check up on them.

Exercise is often quoted as the best and cheapest anti-depressant. It is also massively under utilised and under prescribed by health care professionals. That isn’t a criticism of doctors though. It is only relatively recently that the research has shown how effective exercise is and how important when it comes to mental health.

I have two close friends who both suffered quite serious post-natal depression. Both were lucky in that they had doctors who suggested taking up some exercise.

They are both now ultra marathon runners having previously been couch potatoes. Now, I’m not suggesting that you should all go out and run 50 miles this weekend to stave off the Monday morning blues, because quite frankly that wouldn’t be pleasant for most of us!

What I am suggesting, however, is that exercise and being active is as important for our mental wellbeing as it is for our physical wellbeing.

And it’s an issue that the health professionals are now more aware of. As more and more of us also become aware of the importance of looking after our physical health it’s worth remembering how crucial our mental health is and the inextricable link between the two.

So how do we acknowledge this important link? We should just get out and get active.

If you read this column on a regular basis you will probably be bored of me going on about the importance of being more active, and about how just a small start can soon snowball into something much greater – think of my ultra-marathon running friends.

The release of endorphins that only exercise can create develops an amazing feeling of wellbeing and a great mood for most of us.

So as summer draws to a close, make sure you get out there and get moving. Not only for the sake of your physical health but for your mental wellbeing as well.

You will feel better physically and mentally. And if you need more help, just ask someone.