HEALTH
OUTDOOR EXERCISE By Suzanne Purton
Now that the days are getting warmer and it is possible to replicate most gym exercises outdoors, why not take the opportunity to move your favourite gym workouts outside and reap the benefits of exercising amongst Mother Nature? But what is it about exercising outdoors that makes it feel so much better? It has to do with the powerful combination of exercise and exposure to nature, explains Martin Niedermeier, Ph.D., a professor of sport science at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. The physical exercise is invigorating, while being surrounded by nature helps to relieve stress, so it becomes a powerful combination. 54
Read on for some great benefits that should not be ignored! Outdoor exercise provides an opportunity to be physically active in a constantly changing environment. Whether walking or running, taking part in these exercises on a treadmill results in continous repetition of the same movement pattern which could potentially lead to an overuse injury. Think of the same impact occurring over and over as you pound the belt of the treadmill. But outside, we are faced with a variable terrain helping to teach our body to adapt to the surrounding environment. By negotiating these surfaces, we enable our muscles and connective tissues to strengthen which can ultimately help in preventing certain injuries. Have you thought about something as natural as the wind, that can provide a Cibare Magazine
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PICTURE CREDITS: shutterstock By PROKOPEVA IRINA
I am a great lover of working out at the gym, but equally I am a lover of being outside in the fresh air, which is why I like to vary my exercise to rutine include both.
