5 reasons to take your workout outside this Summer!
It’s beginning to heat up, the days are getting longer and spending time at the beach is just around the corner.
There is no doubt that Summer is a season to be outdoors. Being outside is beneficial both for your physical and mental health, especially when doing something you enjoy. No matter what your level of fitness is, just being outdoors has so many benefits.
REASON #1: YOU’LL BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
After a few years of pesky illnesses, research shows that the percentage of green space in one's environment has a positive association with health.
Being in nature is a great way to give your immune system a boost. Your body behaves differently when you’re in nature, and acts as a natural stimulus for your body to protect itself from disease.
Research tells us the impact that fresh air, grass, trees and the colours of the natural environment have on mental health and physical well-being. On top of this an average of 30 minutes spent in nature leads to increased physical activity and lower prevalence of high blood pressure and depression.
REASON #2: YOU'LL ENJOY YOUR OUTDOOR WORKOUT WAY MORE
Who enjoys the treadmill? Ok, it’s great but time seems to go at half-speed right? A recent study published in PLOS One, divided 42 healthy adults into three groups: One group hiked outdoors for 45 minutes, another group walked on a treadmill indoors for 45 minutes, while the control group did nothing for a total of three hours over the course of the study.
The hiking group reported feeling more awake, energized, attentive, happy, and calm as well as having more positive emotions overall than did those on the treadmill. The hikers also said they felt less fatigued after their workout. Basically, the hikers' workout felt easier physically and mentally, even though outdoor hikers and indoor treadmill walkers did the same amount of exercise – the proof is right there!
REASON #3: OUTDOOR WORKOUTS HELP YOU GET STRONGER AND WORKOUT LONGER!
Being active outdoors reduces perceived effort and allows individuals to work at higher workloads, which may help increase the amount of physical activity undertaken and motivation to continue. Most of the time we are exercising outdoors, it’s fun so the time passes, the calories are being burned, yet most of the time you don’t realise how hard you are working!
REASON #4: YOU’LL BURN MORE CALORIES
Speaking of calories, a fun fact is performing the same exercise outdoors is better for you than doing the same activity indoors. Due to the changing conditions outdoors, your body adapts to these and actually in turn burns more calories than doing the exact same exercise indoors.
REASON #5 YOU’LL RELEASE MORE FEEL-GOOD HORMONES & GET YOUR VITAMIN D!
Best way to get a big smile on your face? … Get some exercise outdoors. There’s a scientific reason why people feel so energised and full of enthusiasm after exercising outdoors - your body is releasing feel-good hormones like dopamine.
This mixed with exposure to the sun's rays = happy, healthy humans. Every time the sun is shining and hitting exposed skin on your body, it’s triggering your body to produce more Vitamin D.
‘’A study at the University of Queensland, Australia, found that those who exercised outdoors on a regular basis had higher levels of serotonin, a hormone that regulates mood, than those who workout mainly indoors. They also had higher levels of endorphins, the post-exercise rush that occurs after exercise when exercising outside, especially in green environments’’ – Primal Play
So there we go, we already knew that exercise was great for our bodies both mentally and physically, but with the addition of the outdoors, we can really amplify these benefits!
Blue Fitness is the supplier of both Les Mills and TRX across Australia. Both of these brands have a wide variety of equipment that can be used both inside and outside and with TRX, you can fit everything into a small backpack!
For more information, you can check out the full range here
Let’s make Summer 2022/2023 amazing!
