Working out doesn’t have to be a mundane, boring experience; there are ways to make your fitness journey exciting, adventurous and remain connected to nature at the same time. Discover the benefits of embracing outdoor fitness adventures, and how the natural environment can be incorporated with your workouts.
1. Discovering Adventure with Outdoor Fitness
Adventure and fitness come hand in hand for those looking to make the most of the outdoors. You don’t have to be an athlete to appreciate all the benefits of outdoor fitness. Here are a few of the ways you can discover adventure and enhance your well-being with outdoor fitness:
- Get active in fresh air
- Explore while you exercise
- Discover nature
Get active in fresh air
Going for a jog, bike ride or nature walk, can do wonders for your health and overall well-being. Exercise in the great outdoors improves your physical fitness, boosts your mood and provides an energy boost. With no walls or ceilings, there is unlimited potential for exploration while you get your fit on.
Explore while you exercise
The great outdoors is the perfect place to break away from your routine and beat cabin fever. You can take the same one hour exercise routine to completely different places everyday such as fields, forests, parks, rivers and lakes. Even better, you can find new paths, trails and paths as you explore.
Discover nature
Outdoor fitness offers an opportunity to get up close and personal with nature. Spotting wild animals, plants and trees while on your outdoor adventure will give you a new appreciation of nature. Learn about the changing of the seasons, the landscape and all that nature has to offer as you get moving.
2. Unplug and Rediscover Nature in Your Workouts
Numerous studies conclude that spending time in nature improves overall physical and mental wellbeing. To get the most out of this connection it may be time for you to unplug and take your workouts outdoors.
Outdoor exercise can be as simple as taking a brisk walk while admiring the beauty of your environment, or getting the heart rate up on a mountain bike ride. Either way, it’s a great way to get in touch with the physical and mental benefits of movement in and around nature.
Benefits include:
- A break from routines: breaking out of the gym and taking your activity outdoors means breaking free from any physical and mental barriers that may be holding you back
- Greater freedom of movement: there are far more avenues to explore outside and you can take your exercise in more unexpected directions
- Peace of mind: the natural environment creates a calming effect, which can lead to greater mindfulness
But where to start? Below are a few key tips to get you going on your outdoor fitness journey:
- Find the right setting: know what you’re comfortable with and what kind of environment best suits your activity
- Pack light: but make sure you still include any essential items such as sunscreen, water, and a light snack
- Keep track of your progress: use your smartphone to make a map of your route and track the time and distance of your workout
- Be safe: always research the area you’re visiting before heading out, and leave a plan with someone close to you
Unplugging and rediscovering nature in your workouts is all about being creative and breaking away from the traditional gym setting to explore the outdoors and find new paths to success – both physical and mental.
3. The Benefits of Embracing Nature in Fitness
Incorporating natural elements into your fitness routine offers many benefits that can help you achieve a healthier lifestyle. Here are three ways embracing nature can add value to your fitness:
- Reducing Stress – Nature offers a healthy outlet for stress relief. Letting your mind wander and lose itself in natural beauty can help to relax your body and unclutter your mind. Research shows that nature activities provide a calming effect that can help to reduce blood pressure and metabolic rates.
- Improving Mental Health – Studies show that outdoor physical activity can provide mental health benefits, such as improved memory, better problem-solving skills, and increased focus.
- Increasing Creativity – Many of us tend to think more clearly and come up with balanced solutions to our problems when we are outdoors. People who take time to appreciate nature can find creative solutions to seemingly impossible problems.
But Nature can do more than just reduce stress and improve mental health. Scientists have also found that physical activity in nature can reduce anxiety and depression and help boost energy levels.
Regular physical activity in a natural setting can help to improve cardiovascular health, increase strength, and improve endurance. This can be beneficial in both the short-term and long-term, as it can help to reduce health risks associated with sedentary lifestyles.
Nature-based activities offer the perfect opportunity to stay in shape and take full advantage of the outdoors. Studies have even shown that individuals who engage in outdoor physical activity are more likely to stay active in the long-term.
4. Experience the Wonders of Outdoor Fitness
Outdoor fitness can be an exciting and rewarding experience for anyone who is willing to give it a shot. There’s no better way to reconnect with nature and get your exercise fix simultaneously! Here’s a few of the greatest wonders you will discover when taking your workout outdoors.
- Fresh air and sunshine – Feel the warmth of the sun as you work out in the outdoors. Not only will you enjoy the beauty of nature, you’ll get a healthy dose of Vitamin D as well.
- Build strength and increase endurance – Outdoor activities such as hiking and jogging help to build strength and increase your overall endurance. Nature also provides some unique challenges such as uneven terrain and hills which make your workout more enjoyable.
- Focus on your core muscles – Working out in the outdoors will help you to focus on your core muscles as you stabilize yourself against the elements. Strengthening your core is an essential part of any fitness regime.
And most importantly, outdoor fitness can be FUN! Take your workout to the beach, park, or nature trail and let the weight and stress of the world fade away. You’ll be rewarded with a sense of accomplishment and joy that comes with being physically active.
So don’t wait, grab your running shoes or mountain bike and get out there! Whatever your goals, outdoor fitness has something for everyone and it’s ready to be explored!
So gather your friends, lace-up your shoes, and get ready to work harder and explore nature further than you ever thought possible. With outdoor fitness adventures, you can enjoy the beauty of nature and push yourself outside of the box all while you get in shape and reach your fitness goals.