While many of us might prefer to exercise indoors during the colder winter months, like a home workout routine or inside a gym, once spring hits, you don’t need to always confine yourself to indoor workouts. Get outside and into the fresh air and sunshine for even more health benefits. Let’s take a look at some tips and ideas for exercising outdoors.
Take An Exercise Mat To a Remote Or Secluded Location
It can be very therapeutic to get out amongst nature to perform an exercise routine and if you enjoy working out on an exercise mat at home or in the gym, roll it up, put it in the car and find a nice peaceful and secluded outdoor location to get some exercise in.
Just a few ideas for great outdoor exercise locations include:
- The beach
- Your local park
- On the edge of a lake or river
- The hinterland
- Beside a waterfall
- On top of a building
- The backyard
- Beside the pool
You know your general area better than anyone, so you’re bound to have a number of ideas where you can take your exercise mat and get busy getting fit outdoors.
Get Out For a Power Walk Or a Jog
The great thing about going for a walk or a jog is not only are you getting outdoors, but it costs you nothing to do either of these beneficial exercises. Power walking and jogging are fantastic for burning calories, dropping body fat, increasing your metabolic rate, improving cardiovascular fitness, as well as improving your mood through the release of feel-good hormones in the brain.
As you’re out and about, you can take in the sights, sounds and smells of the area you’re exercising in. You don’t necessarily have to pound the city streets. You could go to the park or drive to a scenic location to go for a walk or a run.
As an additional idea, if you have a dog, go out for a walk or a run and get some exercise together. You will both be better for it.
Another option is to buy a bike (if you don’t already have one) and do some cycling as well.
Always Do Some Stretching and Warming Up First
If you regularly do indoor exercise, chances are you’ll do a warmup before getting into things. The same applies when you’re exercising outdoors. You’ll want your body to be supple and limbered up, even if you’re only planning on taking a power walk. The more stretching and warming up you do before embarking on an exercise routine, the more benefit you’ll get out of the exercise, the easier it will be to do and you also reduce your chances of sustaining an injury. A warmup gets the blood flowing through the body, providing oxygen and vital nutrients to the muscles.
Apply Some Sunscreen
While it’s good for your health to soak up some sunshine, you won’t want to expose your skin to hours of direct sunlight in the middle of the day. Therefore, always apply some sunscreen before heading out, or take a tube with you and apply it after doing a warmup and getting a few minutes of sunshine.
Always Exercise Caution Outdoors
For example, if you’re going for a run through the city streets, you will need to be mindful of vehicles, pedestrians, pets roaming the streets and so on. If you zone out too much on your run, you may not be taking as much notice of your surroundings as you need to be.
Another thing to keep in mind is music. Many people like to listen to music while exercising and if you’re out and about, having music blaring through headphones or earbuds in your ears is going to dull one of your important senses. Either keep the music volume low so you can still hear what’s going on around you or purchase specially designed earbuds or headphones where you are able to still hear the environment that surrounds you while music is playing.
The Advantages and Benefits Of Training Outdoors
Let’s now list just some of the fantastic benefits you’ll receive when you decide to get outdoors and exercise:
Your focus will be improved. Being indoors can get very stale and boring, staring at a wall or a TV screen while pounding a treadmill, for example. When you vary your outdoor exercise environment, you’ll find you remain more focused on your exercise routine and likely feel more motivated as well.
Exercising outdoors means you’ll be getting plenty of fresh air, especially if you choose a nature location and get away from the hustle and bustle of city streets and traffic. Fresh air is revitalising and improves the benefits you get from your exercise.
Rather than being cooled by air conditioning or fans blasting inside the home or gym, outdoors, you’ll be naturally getting cooled by the breeze, or taking refuge under the shade of a lush tree.
Venture to different locations when you get outdoors to exercise. This will give you a lot more visual stimulation, which makes the entire process infinitely more interesting and engaging. Changing locations on a regular basis also breaks up the routine of it all, making it even more stimulating on every level.
If you get out into the countryside and exercise in a tranquil setting, you’ll find your routine benefits the health of your mind just as much as your body. Your brain will be able to clear itself of negative thoughts and your mood overall will improve as a result. You’ll finish your exercises feeling in a positive and relaxed frame of mind.
The Takeaway
Don’t limit yourself to exercising indoors all the time. Make plans to get outside and exercise, at least on occasion. There are just so many benefits and advantages. If indoor exercise routines are becoming routine and boring, then revitalise your exercise regime with some outdoor fitness fun.
Sources:
https://www.popsci.com/how-to-start-exercising-outside-again/
