Outdoor Exercise: Better For Your Health?

Could exercising outdoors do more for your health and happiness?

Many of us may take the luxuries of an indoor gym for granted - easy access rain or shine, customized equipment, and temperature control. But perhaps the unpredictability of the great outdoors has more to offer than you might imagine. 

Studies have demonstrated that outdoor physical activity may lower blood pressure and heart rate, and outdoor exercise has been proven to reduce stress.

Fresh air is indicated to help improve quality of sleep and may even reduce insomnia, while exposure to sunlight can increase levels of Vitamin D, supporting bone strength, hormone regulation and boosting the mood. 

I always believe that a change of environment or scenery can do wonders for building new neural pathways. 

By switching up our routine, the brain is encouraged to depart from the familiar and forge new ways of thinking - this could be a great tactic if you find yourself feeling stuck or bogged down by negative thought patterns. 

Personally, I love my morning run on the paths near my home. It is a centering practice for me that I call “meditation in action”. Between the fresh air and the sights and sounds of nature, I feel refreshed, held, and open to new possibilities every day I step out of my front door. 

Spending this time outside also means changing with the seasons. Watching the height of summer transform into the first yellow leaves of fall and into the crisp air of winter helps me stay in tune with the world around me. 

Give fresh air a try! It could be the boost you’re looking for.

To The Tru Of You,
Teri Cochrane