For many of us, nothing beats being outdoors in nature. With the summer months here and the days becoming longer, it’s the perfect time to ditch the treadmill and embrace the great outdoors for fitness and health. From running and biking along the beach front to yoga on the grass, outdoor fitness activities are the perfect way to stay in shape, feel energized, and find peace of mind. Embracing nature for health and wellbeing can be the perfect antidote to stress and the hustle and bustle of daily life.
1. Rejuvenating in Nature: The Benefits of Outdoor Fitness
Getting Fit Outdoors
Exercising outdoors has some amazing benefits. With clear skies, open greenery, and fresh air to breathe it can totally improve your experience. Recent research has established that being outside can provide an array of both physical and mental health advantages.
Walking, jogging, and cycling outdoors are all effective means of getting fit. Research has proved that exercising in a natural environment boosts your mood and helps reduce stress more so than exercising indoors. This is because natural surroundings usually tend to be more calming, and even just being outside can help provide a sense of well-being.
Here are some great outdoor fitness activities that can get you moving:
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Canoeing/Kayaking
- Snowshoeing
- Tennis
- Paddle Boarding
- Yoga
The greater variety of activities mean that exercising outdoors has something available for everyone, no matter what level or fitness or weather conditions you’re dealing with.
2. Connect with the Outdoors: Exercise in Nature
Nothing refreshes your senses and your outlook on life quite like spending time in nature. Whether it’s a cheerful jog in the woods, a leisurely walks with friends, or a long bike ride along riverside trails, exercising outdoors can be incredibly beneficial to your health. Here are a few reasons why you should aim to get outdoors for your daily physical activity:
- Boosts exercise effectiveness – Being outdoors can help give your exercise routine a boost of effectiveness, due to the fresh air, elaborate scenery, and varied terrain. Your body is sure to love all of the new challenges that await outside the gym.
- Connects you with nature – Nature has long been known to help provide a sense of well-being, calmness and connectedness. Exercise outdoors lets you take in the beauty and peacefulness of the environment.
- Increases Vitamin D intake – Vitamin D is essential for optimal health and can act as a natural painkiller. Getting outdoors for physical activity gives you an added bonus of increased Vitamin D intake from natural sunlight.
Try adding in an outdoor session of physical activity a couple times per week at a minimum and you’ll soon feel the benefits. By lacing up, getting out in the sunshine, and connecting with nature, you are guaranteed to feel a deeper sense of joy and contentment from your overall physical activity routine.
3. Resonate with the Environment: Uncover Mind-Body Benefits of Nature-Based Fitness
Movements inspired by nature are gaining traction in the world of fitness. We’re modern cave dwellers, cut off from the outdoors and all the incredible physical and emotional benefits that nature gives us. Nature-based fitness is about restoring that connection.
Here are three great benefits of embracing nature-based fitness:
- Increased body awareness. Nature-based fitness encourages you to be present in the moment and focus on the movements your body is doing. You become in tune with your bodily sensations and can adjust form from there.
- Better coordination. Nature-based fitness can take you out of your comfort zone with its physical challenges. Navigating over rugged terrain and jumping rocks while keeping your balance will teach your body how to move in a variety of scenarios.
- Unrivaled mindfulness. Nature-based fitness incorporates practices like forest-bathing and grounding with Mother Earth. By spending time in an outdoor setting without technology, you give your brain the break it needs to relax and focus your attention.
The integration of mind-body techniques with physical movement can take your fitness routine to the next level. So unplug for a bit and take advantage of what nature has to offer.
4. Open up to the Unknown: Experience New Adventures in Outdoor Fitness
Experience outdoor fitness like never before with the exciting new trend: embracing the unknown. If you’re tired of the same old routine, a journey into the unknown can be a refreshing and energizing way to mix up your fitness game. Here’s why you should push yourself outside the comfort zone:
- Shake Up Your Routine: Taking a break from the regular routine will keep your body and mind from getting stuck.
- Discover Nature: The outdoors offers something different in its own unique way. Fresh air, sunshine, and scenic views will make any workout a pleasure.
- Fresh Challenges: Going outside your comfort zone will introduce new obstacles, improve your skills, and help you think differently.
From climbing mountains to running up to the top of a building, the possibilities are endless. There’s no better way to embrace the outdoors than by pushing yourself and trying something new. You’d be surprised by how much you can achieve in just a few weeks of venture into the outdoors not only physically, but mentally and emotionally.
So why not take the plunge? Open yourself up to new adventures today and see where outdoor exploring will take you!
5. Find Your Sanctuary: Restore Yourself in the Great Outdoors
Nature is one of the best places to find sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Here are a few quick ways to restore yourself in the great outdoors:
- Go Camping: Pitch a tent and spend a few days with nature. Camping gives you a chance to unplug and listen to the quiet whispers of nature.
- Lead an Eco-Friendly Hike: Visit your local preserve and take a trail hike. Enjoy the peace and quiet of a less traveled path with an eco-friendly approach.
- Head to the Beach: Spend time with your toes in the sand to rest and recharge your batteries. Enjoy the sound of waves crashing against the shore and let your troubles float away.
Alternatively, find a place to sit, close your eyes, take deep breaths, and listen to the birds singing, the wind rustling in the trees, and the leaves crunching beneath your feet. Take in the smells of green plants and clean air and let your worries melt away.
Really want to go deep? Learn more about meditation and mindfulness practices in nature. Nature offers a beautiful platform to practice meditation. There are endless options, from simply sitting still among the trees to focusing on a sound in your environment and becoming one with it.
No matter which activity brings you peace and restores your spirit, the great outdoors is an incredible source of solace and renewal.
Life is a beautiful journey, and exploring the outdoors is a great way to enrich it. Whether it’s biking, swimming, or running, embrace nature and enjoy the time spent outside with outdoor fitness activities. It’s not only great for your health and wellbeing, but also for your soul. So breathe in the fresh air, be grateful for the beautiful landscapes around you, and reap all the benefits of outdoor workouts.
