How do you make the most of your exercise? You might try to ensure you do a range of different workouts, with some cardiovascular, some strength training and some mobility-focused movement. You might try to shore it up with a balanced diet full of important nutrients. You might join a group so you can enjoy the benefits of a shared exercise experience.
Another technique that has become increasingly popular in recent years is exercising outdoors (https://www.bluezones.com/2021/10/why-outdoor-workouts-may-be-better-for-you/#). Think of parks with rows of exercise bikes or people doing yoga on the beach. It can depend a bit on your local climate, but research suggests this approach may come with additional benefits.
One reason exercise is good for you is that it doesn’t just improve your physical fitness; it also gives your mental health a boost by getting your endorphins firing and putting you in a better mood. Scientists say that spending meaningful time out in the fresh air is also good for your mental and emotional state. Exercising outside combines both of these things for an even more effective way to tackle low feelings.
Diet may be an essential way to gain most of the nutrients you need, but the body’s primary source of vitamin D isn’t fruit and vegetables; it’s sunlight. You still need to wear sunscreen to protect from sunburn (which can increase your risk of skin cancer), but spending some time outdoors is the best way to raise your vitamin D levels. Without vitamin D, your body can’t process other minerals like calcium (for healthy bones) properly.
Outdoor exercise has also become more popular due to the pandemic. With restrictions in place to encourage social distancing and prevent people from gathering together indoors, exercising in the open air has proven a useful way to keep working out together without increasing the risk of transmitting the virus.
Throughout history, people have spent a lot of time outdoors, probably more than we’re used to doing in the modern world. The full range of benefits associated with fresh air and sunlight are hard to list. Now green exercise is recapturing imaginations and providing new ways to keep fit.
From walking to see a neighbor and spending time in the garden to organized classes on beaches or in parks, it may be time to think about what outdoor exercise could do for you.
