Unique Benefits of Outdoor Exercise | Spring Edition

• Unique Benefits of Outdoor Exercise | Spring Edition

Welcome spring. That season when the temperatures are just right, the sun is shining and it feels like winter is finally over! These moments of happiness are what motivate us to get outdoors. It is often said that habits are what we do every day and the rest are exceptions. In spring our energy changes, we can train with friends, go for a run or do a workout that doesn't require equipment and we can do it every day if we set our minds to it, because now the sun shines longer and it seems that the day will last longer. The goal is to take advantage of your environment and get inspired by what's around you. Although, of course, it's not just about going out and doing some exercise, since you're wearing it, make the most of your training! The options for outdoor training are just as varied or more varied than what you can do in your trusted gym, you can also choose to hike, bike, swim, run or go to the park

Outdoor training beneficially affects well-being, self-esteem and motivation. About 30 minutes of outdoor training a day is enough to start seeing favorable changes in our physical and mental health, as the most obvious and immediate result is that we observe an increase in energy levels, increased vitality and a decrease in anxiety and irritability day by day. If we look at them in detail, we can delve deeper into the benefits of exercise for quality of life.

First, let's distinguish between the benefits of exercise for physical health and the benefits of exercise for psychology:

We found the following benefits of exercise for physical health:

The impact of the sun

There are great benefits to outdoor exercise, especially now that good weather and sunny days are coming, precisely: Sunlight provides us with a lot of vitamin D, which has great benefits for the health of our bones, muscles and metabolism. In addition, being in the sun during the day can help us sleep better at night and improve immune function. In addition, when we train outdoors, we breathe pure oxygen, which helps us to provide energy to our cells and helps fight diseases. Always remember to protect yourself from the sun, as UV radiation can be harmful, especially during peak hours.

Cellular level

Studies have shown that people who train outdoors have lower levels of cortisol, a hormone related to stress, than those who train indoors. On the contrary, they have higher levels of dopamine, serotonin and endorphins. We add that training in green and/or open spaces helps blood pressure return to baseline faster than training indoors.

Biomechanics

When we practice sports outdoors, more specifically running or cycling, our muscles and tendons work more dynamically and completely, because during the journey we discover changes in direction, the shape of the terrain and real unevenness.

Calorie consumption

Due to the uneven terrain, the resistance of the air and wind, and the actual temperature of the environment, the energy expenditure generated by our body during exercise increases. In addition, the energy we invest to move forward in a race is usually much greater than when we run on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike.

Reduced fatigue

The environment is pleasant and provides us with distracting stimulation. This reduces our attention to the feeling of physiological fatigue and our mind is invaded by negative thoughts.

Minimal pollution

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and studies (Kotzias, 2005) estimate that pollution in closed environments can be more than twice as high as in outdoor environments. Certain conditions in gyms, such as the number of people practicing sports, the machines, or the lighting and ventilation systems, can increase contamination to very high levels within such spaces compared to outdoors.

Biophilia Effect

Biophilia is a feeling of connection to nature and other life forms. It is believed that humans have an innate affinity for nature and an intrinsic emotional connection to other animals. It is likely that training in the open air will more easily satisfy these innate biophilic needs in humans than doing the same training within four walls.