When was the last time you exercised out in the open? Grass beneath your feet, birds chirping, breeze blowing? In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it may be challenging to find the time to exercise outdoors, or simply more convenient to move at home or a gym, but the natural environment has an array of wellness-boosting benefits worth capitalising on. From physical energy to mental clarity, here are 6 reasons to embrace moving outdoors.
Benefits of moving outdoors
Mother nature can do wonders for the mind, body and spirit. Even without any greenery around, spending time in sunlight and fresh air can provide a valuable boost to wellness.
Here are six benefits of moving in mother nature.
1. Improving self-esteem and mood
Self-esteem and mood are an important part of having a positive outlook of yourself, and on life. Studies show that exercising in nature can have a positive impact on self-esteem and improve your mood – an effect that is especially noticed in people with mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. Whether it’s a brisk walk through the park, a morning yoga session in your backyard, or a scenic hike in the mountains, the natural world offers a therapeutic outlet for mental wellness that should not be underestimated.
2. Reducing stress
Being stressed can lead to disrupted sleep patterns, fatigue, and muscle tension. The tranquility of natural settings, coupled with physical activity, creates a meditative state that allows you to slow down, become more mindful of your surroundings, and ultimately, alleviate symptoms of stress.
3. Increasing vitamin D intake
Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and a strong immune system, and sunlight naturally provides us with this mighty vitamin through its ultraviolet light. Spending time moving in the sunshine (with sunscreen, of course) is a great way to get your dose of vitamin D and keep your body happy.
4. Engage socially
Many outdoor activities lend themselves to social interaction, providing opportunities for positive interpersonal experiences that can promote connection and reduce feelings of isolation associated with mental health conditions like depression. Joining a group or participating in community fitness classes can help you boost your mental wellbeing and build a supportive social network.
5. Switching up your workout routine
While working out indoors can be helpful due to inclement weather or convenience, it can get repetitive – causing your body to plateau, and physical gains to become harder to achieve. To shake up your workout, and get fresh air at the same time, take your exercise outside and embrace the movement opportunities it offers.
6. Promoting exploration and creativity
When it comes to moving outdoors, we don’t just have to move in it; we can move with it.
The unique make-up of the natural world makes it a great stimulus for movement. By approaching it as an opportunity to move – over, around, up, along, under and through – we explore the important physical relationship between humans and the environment – a relationship that has been devalued in our world of convenience and safety. Using mind and body as motivation, we can harmonise with the environment efficiently and fluidly, seeing obstacles as opportunities that we can take rather than barriers that we face. Transcending the obvious in pursuit of rhythmical and dynamic expression of the human body.
Conclusion
While movement in any form is beneficial, moving outdoors offers a unique set of advantages that add value to overall wellness. Be sure to integrate outdoor movement into your routine to soak up all the wonders of the natural world.