You are aware that physical and mental health benefits of exercise are numerous. What if a straightforward relocation could multiply those advantages by an exponential amount? Evidently, it can. Green exercise, also known as outdoor exercise, combines moving your body and being outside to improve your health. And the results are exceptional. Look no further than the great outdoors if you want to feel better, save money, and save time by not having to go to the gym. Here are five benefits of getting your sweat on with Mother Nature.
1. Better mood and less depression
Outside exercise improves mental health in a way that indoor gyms cannot. It has been demonstrated that getting outside improves mood and reduces anger and depression. Vitamin D production rises as a result of sunlight exposure, which may be part of the explanation for this improvement in mood. To benefit from it, you do not need to complete a marathon or a brutal outdoor boot camp. Even low-intensity activities, like walking or gardening, will do. Take a 15-minute walk break outside for a quick afternoon pick-me-up and feel energized when you return to work.
2. Improved self-worth
Research shows that as little as five minutes of outdoor exercise can improve self-esteem. Anyplace in the outdoors will do, but being close to water or greenery enhances this effect. Interestingly, low- to moderate-intensity physical activity shows greater improvements in self-esteem than high-intensity outdoor exercise. Activities shown to improve self-esteem include walking, cycling, horseback riding, fishing and gardening. A regular dose of outdoor activity can help boost the already powerful esteem-enhancing effect of exercise.
3. Low Price
Cost is frequently cited as one of the biggest barriers to regular exercise by individuals. For fitness enthusiasts and trainers alike, the outdoors offers a low-cost option. Outdoor venues such as low-traffic neighborhood streets and local parks offer free space for physical activity, despite the fact that high gym or studio prices can be a barrier to exercise. Trainers can benefit from these spaces as well. A local permit and small fee are often all that’s needed to hold training sessions in public use areas, resulting in reduced overhead and increased earnings.
4. Facilitate Access
Another common barrier to exercise is a lack of time. It takes more time to stay active to navigate traffic, crowded locker rooms, and parking garages. Utilizing the great outdoors can help alleviate these time constraints. The hills, trails, and streets in the neighborhood are ideal for walking, running, and cycling, and the parks in the neighborhood are ideal for resistance training, boot camps, and yoga classes. Many outdoor areas include benches, trees, inclined roads and even designated exercise equipment, allowing for a variety of resistance-training exercises.
5. Getting in touch with Mother Nature
The opportunity to connect with Mother Nature and the people and places in your community is one of the greatest advantages of outdoor exercise. Start a weekly walking group with friends and neighbors, wave to your neighbors as you jog the streets, or end your bike ride at a local coffee shop. Outdoor exercise can help you feel more grounded, strengthen your connection to your surroundings, and appreciate the beauty around you more.
Outdoor Exercise Precautions
Not all outdoor spaces are suitable for exercise. Traffic, weather conditions and safety are all things to consider before heading outdoors. Carefully assess your outdoor space to find a setting that is safe and meets your exercise needs. Depending on the conditions, sun protection, a hat, warm clothes or protective rain gear may be necessary.
Get Out and Go!
Don’t let the prospect of outdoor activity scare you. If you’re new to exercise or just getting back into it, start with short exercise sessions and lighter intensity. Even five minutes will do. Any movement counts, whether it’s doing a circuit workout in the park, mountain biking on nearby trails, or walking your kids to the bus. You only need to get out and go!
