Certified personal trainer Brian Mayo (left) is leading a Movement is Medicine group at the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County’s (MHA) Jamestown program. He was interviewed by Certified Peer Specialist Sean Jones about the group on the MHA’s Facebook page.

The Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County (MHA) is now offering Movement is Medicine, a fitness training group, at its Jamestown location in the Gateway Building, Door 14, 31 Water St.

Brian Mayo, MHA volunteer and certified personal trainer is leading the group, which meets Mondays and Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. Those at any experience level are welcome and, like all MHA groups, it is free and open to the public.

As Mayo says in a Facebook live post with Certified Peer Specialist Sean Jones, Movement is Medicine is basically a boot camp fitness class that includes high cardio to help build muscle mass, strength, and create an overall good feeling.

“If you look good, you feel good. Exercise helps you in your recovery,” Mayo said. “Once you stop using substances, it’s a natural help, focusing on looking better and feeling better.”

Mayo notes that he has been on “both sides of the fence.” Movement is Medicine works exercisers hard to get in better shape and feel better about themselves while you are in recovery from substance use disorders, mental health issues or just want to shed some pounds.

“This is a new direction for the MHA to have a fitness class,” said Steven Cobb, Mental Health Association executive director. “We are pretty excited!”

Movement is Medicine is one of more than three dozen groups that meet at the MHA including Crystal Meth Anonymous, AA and NA, #MeToo, Southern Tier Queer Peers, Knitting for Wellbeing, Art in Recovery, PTSD, Suicide Prevention, Master Your Money, Relapse Prevention, and Recovery Dharma. More information about these and other MHA programs is in the MHA’s Spring Newsletter available online at MHAChautauqua.org/newsletters.

With programs in both Jamestown and Dunkirk, the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County is a peer recovery center offering support groups and individual coaching for people looking to improve their lives, deepen wellness, thrive in recovery, or support those on a recovery path. Peers use their personal stories to help people find recovery in their own lives in their own way.

All Mental Health Association services are free.

To learn more about the Mental Health Association, call 661-9044 or visit MHAChautauqua.org or Facebook.com/MHAChautauqua.