Green Exer THIS SUMMER
Keep Moving & Make Outdoor Exercise Part of your Lifestyle! There’s more to outdoor exercise than fresh air, vitamin D and exhilaration. Working out in your local green space can offer many benefits, simply step out of your home and go! Exercise provides a multitude of benefits to your health and well-being and natural environments can provide many more. Going for a walk or bike ride for example, can mean that you exercise harder and for longer than if you were in the gym. Your body is encountering a constantly changing environment. You have to adapt to changes such as inclines, obstacles, terrain and weather, potentially providing a more challenging workout. Not only does exercise provide the feel-good factor and help to clear your mind but outdoor exercise works your mind too. Your mind has to focus differently than it would on a flat floor, watching out for all the changes around you and mapping of direction. Although gyms provide a social factor with being part of a club, green exercise can create a sense of belonging to your neighbourhood, getting to know your surrounding area and community. When enjoying the outside, we need to pay attention to the weather. Be visible and wear clothing that helps keep you cool in the summer months. Keep hydrated too, your body loses water, electrolytes and salt from sweating. 22 36
Sunscreen and Skin Care It’s important to protect and look after your skin. For great advice and guidance on sunscreen and pre/post workout skin care, see article by Yvette, Baytree Beauty. Membership to a gym provides the chance to exercise in a safe, cool and friendly environment. With many providing options of classes, expert guidance, swimming pools, saunas and steam rooms. Having a healthy lifestyle is the best habit of all. Green exercise provides the chance to enjoy being outside on your own or under socially distancing guidelines. Even better if you’re able to go to the countryside and enjoy nature whilst benefitting from exercise. Your options are limitless, most exercise can be performed and enjoyed outside. Enjoy Movement. Do as much as you wish, the more you do the more energy you’ll have and the more mobile you’ll be, whether your preference is inside or out in the fresh air.
