The sun’s out, the weather is getting warmer, so let’s step outside more. Natural sunlight can provide you with vitamin D, an essential vitamin for healthy bones and a strong immune system.
Outdoor training tends to help boost your motivation and can offer a nice change of pace from indoor spaces that gyms provide. You know that phrase “go take a walk,” there’s a reason that’s said. Being outside in any form of nature can have positive effects for the brain, such as calming your emotions while clearing your mind, that is if you allow it.
It’s not a secret being consistent in your fitness routine is one of the pillars of healthy living and generally a longer life span. It improves your cardiovascular, lowers blood pressure, helps control body weight, and protects against a variety of diseases. The healthier you are, the less chance you have for getting sick, providing you with a stronger immune system.
Making a habit of spending regular time outdoors, especially in nature, can do a lot to boost physical and emotional wellness. Being outside can also help relieve emotions like worry, anxiousness and depression. It may also help promote emotions you want to feel more of, like happiness, peace and positivity.
The best fitness outlet is one that fits you and something you know you will do more often. If you can find physical activities that you have fun doing while burning calories and getting stronger, you may be more encouraged to stay committed to your weekly routine.
Exercise doesn’t only classify as an actual training session like one you would do with a personal trainer, such as push ups, lunges or jumping jacks, and isn’t the ONLY way to keep healthy and active. Truth is, any activity that gets your body moving and heart rate up, such as gardening, playing with your dog at the park, joining your kids on a bike ride or taking a walk on a trail after a meal, can offer great health benefits while keeping your heart strong.
The point here is, staying active is so important for a healthier and longer life. It doesn’t necessarily require the standard training session you think of when you hear exercise.
I encourage you this spring and moving into summer to think of ways you can be active outdoors to get you healthier. It’s easy to forget sometimes there’s a whole world that does exist outside your window, and you don’t need a gym setting to be active and healthy.
Ashley LaMorte is a nationally certified fitness instructor and has been in the fitness industry close to a decade. Over the years she has gotten the opportunity to instruct group X boot camps at gyms and train private clients from all walks of life, all over the Bay Area. She now has her own mobile fitness business, LaMorte Lift. Learn more at LaMorteLift.com.
