Outdoor exercise offers an alternative to gyms — which can be intimidating, and are likely closed during times of social distancing! Sports such as hiking, canoeing, swimming, biking, and numerous other outdoor activities give you more choices for enjoyable exercise, which is likely to keep you motivated. They can also be done on your own, so you can do them safely.

THE BENEFITS OF BEING OUTDOORS:

• Fresh air is good for your health. Fresh air has been shown to help digest food more effectively, improve blood pressure and heart rate, strengthen the immune system, reduce obesity rates, and strengthen family ties, all leading to a healthier you.

• It makes you happier. According to research, positive emotions can be correlated to a person’s long-term health habits which reduce the risk of future heart problems – a leading cause of death in the United States. “Higher levels of positive emotions were associated with less smoking, greater physical activity, better sleep quality and more adherence to medications at baseline,” claims researcher, Nancy L Sim

• Fresh air cleans your lungs. “Fresh air helps the airways of your lungs to dilate more fully and improves the cleansing action of your lungs,” says Seepter. “When you exhale and breathe out through your lungs, you release airborne toxins from your body.”

• You will have more energy and sharper mind. Research shows that “spending time in fresh air, surrounded by nature, increases energy in 90 percent of people,” says Abigail Wise, The Huffington Post. There is a “positive impact of being outdoors and around natural elements on subjective vitality, above and beyond the effects of physical activities or social interactions that can take place in natural settings,” adds researcher Richard Ryan, et al.

• Outdoor Exercise is Adaptable Best of all, outdoor exercise can be adapted to anyone no matter their level of fitness.

“Nature is fuel for the soul, often when we feel depleted we reach for a cup of coffee, but research suggests a better way to get energized is to connect with nature.”

– Richard Ryan, researcher and professor of psychology at the University of Rochester.