This morning my Boot Camp class officially moved outdoors. Living in Boston it’s always a gamble of what the weather will be like in April. Here are 4 reasons why it’s worth the risk.
Fresh Air
The best part of exercising outdoors is the fresh air you breathe in. The brisk air will make you feel more
awake and improve your mental health. Most big gyms don’t have windows and in the summer they crank the air conditioning. It’s hard to circulate clean air in a facility like that.
Scenery
New scenery is a great distraction from a tough work-out. If you normally exercise early in the morning, watching the sun come up as your pushing through a tough work-out can take your mind off of the exercise you’re doing. When you work-out at a local park , there is a lot to take in and it’s a nice switch from the usual gym scene.
Sunlight
After a winter of short days and long nights, its great to get outside and in the sunlight. Exposure to ultra-violet rays allows your body to produce Vitamin D, which is very beneficial for your body. Vitamin D improves your mood and helps you to maintain strong bones. One of the reasons many people feel sad or depressed in the winter months is due to the lack of Vitamin D. Take advantage of the extra hours of sunlight and get outside.
Open Space
Do you ever feel too close to the person working out next to you? Being in an open park or field you have plenty of room to get your work-out on and maintain your personal space. There are also exercises that you may not be able to do inside your gym if the space is too small or the ceiling is too low. When you’re outside your boundaries are limitless. Having that extra space can make for some really creative and fun work-outs.
Don’t wait until the summer to start exercising outdoors. Take advantage of every day you have in this mild weather, before you know it you’ll be back in that gym again this winter.
Photo Credit: http://skillset360.com
