If you remember this, then you’ve been following us really closely. If you haven’t, well, yesterday, we talked about the “green workout” and introduced some places where you can go exercise outdoors. Today, we’re going to go more in depth on the benefits of exercising outdoors.
Aside from just being therapeutic and an emotional revitalization, there are many other factors why more and more people are becoming big advocates of the “green workout”.
Let’s start off with saying that working out outdoors is very cost effective. You would probably only need to pay for a little bit of petrol, toll (wherever applicable), and a big bottle of water. It’s practically free for some people (especially those who live near lakes or parks). As compared to say, a gym or a health club membership for a year. Think about it!
Here are some other reasons why people are so big on the “green workout”:
1. Exercising outdoors (versus exercising in the gym) actually burn more calories because it requires us to overcome gravity. On top of that, other environmental factors such as wind, heat, and cold, as well as changes in terrain push our body to utilize more muscles. Hence, a lot more energy and calories are needed. Great for weight loss, no?
2. Getting used to the “green workout” means you’re not subjecting yourself on something external like a gym or a health club in order to workout. It basically means that as long as you have your attire and running shoes with you, you can stick to your routine just about anywhere (even when you’re away on holiday).
3. Guess what? Gym equipment largely contributes to postural distortion, inflexibility, and muscle weakness. Because fixed weight exercise machines or resistance training in the gym don’t always mimic how we use muscle groups together in real life situations, it can cause imbalance and injury.
And let’s face it. Going for a run around a lake or up a slightly hilly track is a lot more fun than staring at a wall whilst consciously trying not to peek at how many more minutes there are left until the end of your routine on the treadmill.
We hear the best times to run are anywhere between 6am to 8am, or 5:30pm to 7pm. Try it!