fitness first
By Sandi Schwartz
W
hen you think of green exercise, you probably picture hiking and climbing mountains— pretty intense outdoorsy activities. However, green exercise can really involve any activity in which we interact with nature while moving our bodies and breaking a sweat. Believe it or not, this can even happen while exercising indoors. We’ll look at what green exercise is, how it helps reduce stress and boost mood, and what types of green exercise activities your children can engage in to feel happier and calmer. What Is Green Exercise? Green exercise is a term used to describe our interaction with nature while engaging in a physical fitness activity. It was coined in 2003 by Jules Pretty, Ph.D., and Jo Barton, Ph.D., at the University of Essex in the United King24 fitness first
dom. Their focus in this area spurred a great deal of research into how nature and exercise together can benefit our emotional wellbeing. Dr. Barton and Dr. Pretty have published dozens of studies on the benefits of green exercise. They have shown that exercising in green spaces—no matter if they are in a city or the wilderness—has a positive effect on mood.They also discovered that the effect of exercising near a body of water has an even greater impact on improving mood. Additional researchers from a wide background including physiology, health and well-being, environmental sustainability, community engagement, and behavior change continue to study the link between nature, exercise, and mental health. This groundbreaking work can help all of us find ways to feel happier and calmer by doing something as simple as going for a walk outside or even watching nature scenes while on the treadmill. How It Reduces Stress Experts have found a clear link between exercise and stress reduction, and nature and stress reduction. So, when you combine the two, you get a double dose of wellness! In fact, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, some studies show that consistent exercise can be just as effective as medication for some people to reduce symptoms of anxiety. Other research shows that physically active people have lower rates of anxiety than those who do not exercise. suburban family | subfam.com
Here are several ways in which green exercise helps reduce stress and anxiety: Produces Endorphins. When we exercise, our body releases feel-good neurotransmitters called endorphins. These chemicals in our brain act as natural painkillers, making us feel better and less stressed. Endorphins are responsible for the natural high we get from a hard workout. Reduces Stress Hormones. Exercise and being in and around nature reduce the level of stress hormones in our body like adrenaline and cortisol, helping us feel calmer. Minimizes Fatigue. Exercise improves blood flow and our body’s ability to use oxygen efficiently. These changes in our brain reduce fatigue and improve alertness. This helps us when we are stressed out because we are depleted and need to return to a more balanced level of energy. When we are stressed, many nerves in our brain and throughout our body are impacted. Scientists conclude, therefore, that if our body feels better, then our mind will also feel better. Provides A Fun Distraction. One of the best parts about exercise and spending time in nature is that these experiences give us a time to take a fun break from the stresses in our daily lives. July/August 2020
