Benefits of Performing Outdoor Exercise

Are you under the impression that exercising is only about training at a gym alongside strangers for hours? We are here to tell you exactly the opposite. A great alternative to the above is taking your exercise routine outdoors, to your backyard or a park. Believe or not, exercising outdoors helps eliminate stress, lifts your mood, and gives a feeling of freedom unobtainable from a closed space.

So, why stick to the gym when you can also spice up your routine outdoors? The goal is to change things up and dare to try something new that will also bring impressive health benefits. A study conducted by researchers from the University of Essex, United Kingdom, showed that during the first five minutes of outdoor exercise–regardless of the type of physical activity–mood and self-esteem are significantly benefitted. In addition to the known benefits of regular exercise, when it is performed outdoors, the surrounding nature and fresh air have a positive impact.

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Exercising outdoors is easy. All you need is the desire to do it. Going for a walk, riding a bike, swimming, climbing mountains, and even extreme sports are highly beneficial to your mind and body. Remember all types of physical exercise will have you work on precision, speed, reflexes, strength, and resistance.

So that there is no doubt that it is an excellent choice, here we share the top five benefits of exercising outdoors.

Adventures Tours at Mistico Park

Adventures Tours at Mistico Park

Advantages of outdoor exercise

1. Change of scene

Even if you are an avid gym member, spicing up your routine every now and then keeps you motivated. Save one or two weeks for outdoor exercise. Open spaces allow for a myriad of activities, reduce the probability of feeling bored, and inspire you to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Hiking at Mistico Park.

Hiking at Mistico Park.

2. Reduced exhaustion

Often routines end up leaving you completely exhausted, and sometimes this is partly due to inadequate nutrition or personal problems. You will see this significantly decrease when exercising outdoors, as green areas will largely stimulate your nervous system by distracting you and reducing your awareness of physiological sensations and negative emotions.

Practicing Outdoors Activities at Mistico Park.

Practicing Outdoors Activities at Mistico Park.

3. Fun with friends and family

A relative or a friend is an ideal workout partner to start your new routine. You’ll become closer and learn to communicate more clearly. Additionally, it is a proven fact that more endorphins–the “happiness hormones”–are released during outdoor exercise than during exercise in a closed space. And we are sure that exercising with someone you love will make it all the more satisfying.

Visitors Enjoying Outdoors Activities.

Visitors Enjoying Outdoors Activities.

4. Reduces stress

A timeless prescription for a healthy life is breathing fresh air, and adding workout sessions does wonders to combat stress. The levels of endocrine markers related to stress such as adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol drop after contact with nature.

Visitor Hiking at Hanging Bridges.

Visitor Hiking at Hanging Bridges.

5. Weight loss

If this is your goal, an effective way to see quick results is to alternate between training at the gym and exercising outdoors. The more you combine your workout, the less likely your body is to hit a weight-loss plateau. By keeping your muscles responsive through changing routines, your metabolism will remain active, and this will lead to weight loss.

The key to success is determination. In fact, any activity involving body movement performed outdoors for 30 minutes, at least three times a week, is proven to bring outstanding results.

Did we convince you? Take a break from your daily tasks. Visit Mistico Park with friends or family and enjoy the great results of exercising outdoors. Yes, you can exercise at Mistico Park. You can take a walk in our hanging bridges amidst exuberant nature. Or, if you’re the adrenaline-rush type, you have to go for the Spider Monkey Canyon tour. Take your workout outdoors at Mistico Park!

Enjoying Outdoors Activities.

Enjoying Outdoors Activities.