Every year, many of us discontinue our gym memberships. It makes us feel guilty, setting off weeks of challenging diets and self-enforced discipline. However, whether monetary reasons are to blame or a lack of available time, gyms may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
YouGov found that almost 25% of Americans ditched the gym because their circumstances changed. Some feel they could get the results they wanted through other routes. It is worth examining an alternate approach to fitness that can serve you well in these changing times: exercising outdoors.
To offer you some encouragement, we illustrate four benefits of working out outdoors that indoor gyms cannot give you, no matter how steep their membership fees are.
1. A Chance to Rejuvenate Your Mental Wellness
The connection between physical workouts and mental health is well-regarded. The Guardian has a riveting explanation: When muscles contract, they secrete myokines, proteins that can improve our mood. These chemicals can pass through your blood-brain barrier and lift your mood, much like an antidepressant.
However, many people find it difficult to experience these benefits in a conventional indoor gym environment. Women can find it especially hard to deal with the social judgment and unsolicited advice from some men. Even some fitness trainers feel that taking gym breaks can be healthy for you if the constant noise on social media seems overwhelming. Gymming needn’t be life.
In contrast, maintaining an outdoor fitness routine can be easier on your body and soul. You can view it as a casual walk or even running errands, but spending time moving your body outdoors will nourish you from within. Moreover, it is sustainable—financial reasons won’t compel you to discontinue your membership!
2. A Variety of Exercise Options Minus the Steep Fees
A distinct advantage of exercising outdoors is varying your routine as you like. For example, you can go for a 30-minute rapid walk if you are in the mood for cardio. You could use a bicycle or go for a run. Or swim a few high-energy laps in the lake.
Your options expand if you have a community park with good-quality outdoor fitness equipment. For example, you can use an exercise bike for a
cardio boost or a rowing machine to work more muscles and build stamina. Some parks even have elliptical cross trainers, ideal for those who want a low-impact but thorough workout.
Of course, you will likely find these options in an indoor gym too. But the cost will be considerable. Moreover, you may have to adhere to the gym’s guidelines on which days to use specific machines. It limits your freedom and individual preferences.
If you decide to start using outdoor equipment for fitness, ensure it is safe and durable. According to TriActive USA, equipment made of high-gauge steel can offer good weather resistance. It is also essential to guarantee that there aren’t any free weights that can hurt beginners.
3. A Shot at Finding a Like-Minded Community
A Gallup survey reports that the loneliness problem is rapidly worsening. Every one in five people in the US reports feeling lonely. It affects how they live their everyday life and perceive their future. Going out for exercise makes people more likely to meet and make friends, mitigating this risk.
A poor work-life balance and no time to pursue hobbies are prominent reasons behind the loneliness crisis. Going to the gym may help you meet other people, but the environment may seem harsh to those who aren’t “into” fitness.
Indeed, a Nuffield Health survey found that around 47% of people find gyms intimidating—something that keeps them from exercising as much as they would like to.
An outdoor exercise environment does not have this limitation. You have your space to do as you please. The chances of finding a community that resonates with you are higher.
4. An Opportunity to Commune With Nature
Have you come across the book Forest Bathing by Dr Qing Li? The pristine white-and-green book has become ubiquitous in bookstores everywhere. It has a simple premise–spending time in nature can deliver beneficial health effects.
A CNN report discusses the Japanese technique’s impact on sleep problems, anxiety, and even blood pressure. Some studies find that being one with nature minimizes the surge of stress hormones in your body. It helps lower your blood pressure and resting heart rate.
When you combine nature immersion with physical exercise, you also give your body a chance to produce endorphins. The result is improved fatigue and overall well-being, particularly when you’re going through a stressful period.
The good part is that you don’t need an actual forest to enjoy the benefits of exercising surrounded by nature. Your neighborhood park can work just fine, as can any woods you may be fortunate to live near. If natural spaces are lacking in your area, go for a walk that at least gives you a little glimpse of green. Even a clump of trees near the supermarket is better than nothing.
You may need some additional self-care when adapting to an outdoor workout routine. For example, the timing may become challenging if you can only find time during your office lunch hour—the sun may not appreciate your efforts. You may also miss some perks your former gym offered, like complimentary protein bars.
Even so, if you’re facing gym fatigue, embracing the great outdoors is worth a shot to continue your fitness journey. It lets you be free, be you, without the stress of judgmental peers and upselling attendants peddling health mixes.
