When you hear the words outdoor exercise, you’re likely to conjure images of people running around in a park or along trails. But outdoor exercise is more than just running; it encompasses activities like hiking and biking and any activity involving spending time outside.
Outdoor workouts benefit your mind, body, and overall well-being. From reducing stress levels and improving your physical health to boosting moods—there are plenty of reasons why taking some time outdoors is beneficial on both a short-term and long-term basis. This article discusses the various advantages of exercising out in nature!
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Ways Of Getting Great Outdoor Exercise
Exercising outdoors is a fantastic way to get fit and improve your mental well-being. If you’re tired of simply running or jogging in your local park, why not try something new, like biking, swimming, or playing team sports? Biking is great for boosting fitness as it builds endurance, plus it’s fun and easy to do. Swimming can also be incredibly beneficial as it works out your entire body and provides resistance training without impacting your joints. Plus, you can do it in practically any body of water, so no two sessions have to be the same!
Playing organized team sports is also a great way to stay active while having some social interaction; sports like soccer, tennis, and basketball are excellent outdoor activities that require physical exertion, and many offer various levels of competitive play, making them more engaging. The bottom line: there are plenty of ways to get creative with outdoor exercise, so don’t limit yourself—have fun and get outside!
The Benefits Of Outdoor Exercise
It’s no secret that regular exercise is essential for physical and mental health. But what are the benefits specifically of exercising in nature? Below are a few advantages of getting your sweat on outdoors.
Natural Antidepressant
For anyone struggling with depression and feeling unmotivated, outdoor exercise may be the perfect solution. Being out in nature can be incredibly uplifting by allowing for a change of scenery, stimulating your senses, and promoting an appreciation for life.
Exercising outside creates natural endorphins, which help to improve moods. From biking to running to camping, outdoor activities are full of the potential to reinvigorate and restore emotional well-being in even the darkest of times.
Challenges Your Body Differently
Exercising outdoors provides myriad benefits, but one of the most advantageous ones is how it challenges your body differently than indoor exercise. When you add the constantly changing landscape of an outdoor workout, such as trails and hills, your body must constantly adjust to unpredictable stimuli—working more muscles than you would in a controlled environment like a gym or home. Wind resistance and inclines are just two elements that can further increase your cardiovascular fitness and lung capacity.
And if that weren’t enough, you get to breathe in fresh air rather than recycled gym air while outdoors! So take full advantage of all Mother Nature has to offer and experience why challenging your body in an outdoor setting is such an efficient form of exercise.
More Accessible
One of the greatest benefits of outdoor exercise is its accessibility. Many people face a barrier when engaging in physical activity, most often due to financial or time constraints. Fortunately, outdoor exercise requires little to no investment or membership fees and can usually be done at one’s convenience. This means everyone has an equal opportunity for an active lifestyle regardless of their means and availability.
Outdoor exercise can also be broken down into smaller, more manageable chunks, as plenty of activities require short periods and minimal resources. All in all, outdoor exercise has made it easier for people from all walks of life to stay healthy and active.
Can Burn More Calories
Exercising outdoors is one of the best ways to get fit, not just because of the fresh air and sunshine, but also because it can help you burn more calories. Research has shown that various environmental factors like wind and sun make it possible to use more energy outside than when exercising indoors.
Additionally, suppose you’re walking or running around your neighborhood or in a park instead of being stuck on a treadmill at the gym. In that case, you may also find yourself motivated to walk or run for longer periods. Finally, certain activities like hiking are better experienced outside in nature, thus offering another opportunity for increased calorie burn. All in all, outdoor exercise can be an extremely effective way to reach your goals while having fun.
Relieves Stress
Exercise is essential for maintaining physical and mental health – particularly outdoor exercise. As mentioned briefly above, when you exercise outside, your body experiences a natural release of norepinephrine in response to the activity. This hormone helps reverse damage caused by stress and improves your ability to process new information.
Even if you can’t commit to exercising outdoors for long periods, short bursts of “forest bathing” can reduce cortisol levels in the body, according to a recent study conducted in Japan. For maximal benefit, however, it’s important to regularly incorporate outdoor exercise into one’s routine; it will help improve physical strength and relieve stress and increase cognitive ability.
It Can Turn Into A Social Outing
Exercise is essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but it can be hard to motivate yourself to go out and do it. Fortunately, one of the great benefits of outdoor exercise is that it can turn into a social outing — and make exercising much more enjoyable! Whether you go for a jog or walk with a friend, join an organized teams sport like soccer or basketball, or participate in some other kind of physical activity outdoors in the fresh air with others – getting your dose of exercise gets easier when you’re having fun with those around you.
Exercise helps relieve stress and form strong social bonds, so by turning your workout into something more than just an individual activity, you may feel more connected and relaxed while still achieving amazing results.
The Benefits Of Outdoor Exercise Are Vast!
In conclusion, outdoor exercise has numerous benefits that are often hard to replicate with indoor activities. Not only is it free, accessible, and great for burning calories, but it can also relieve stress and turn into a social outing. Whether biking in the park or hiking with friends, exercising outdoors will offer amazing results that benefit your physical and mental health. So, don’t be afraid to go outside and get moving – you won’t regret it!
