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We live in a fast-paced world where we are constantly on the go. But as busy as we are, we often forget about the simple things that we should be doing to maintain good health.
That’s why we went and researched the top 6 outdoor activities you can do to have better health. They include hiking, yoga, cycling, swimming, gardening, and walking.
So pick one or more of them, and get moving.
Walking
Walking is an excellent activity for people of all ages. It’s easy, inexpensive, and can help you burn calories, improve your mood, and keep your heart healthy.
Whether you live in a large city or a small town, there are always places for your to walk. It could be the park near your house or the beautiful green spaces in your local area. You can even walk to work or school if you prefer.
Just start slow, and build up the pace as you feel comfortable.
If you’ve got a dog, then you can take him with you. Dogs love walking, and they’re always up for a good hike. If you’re walking with kids, then you can always make it fun by playing games like “I spy” and “follow the leader”. You can also join a walking group or club. These groups are usually made up of people who enjoy going on walks. This will help you find other people who are also interested in walking.
It’s also a good idea to start walking at different times of the day. You may find one day you feel better when you walk in the morning, and the other day you enjoy an afternoon walking. It’s totally up to you.
Cycling
You don’t need to be a pro cyclist to enjoy cycling. Cycling is a great form of exercise that will help you burn calories and tone your muscles.
To start, all you need is a helmet, a pair of shoes, and a bike. You can ride your bike for fitness, for pleasure, and for commuting (getting to work, home, school, or wherever you want to go).
If you are looking for a bike that will suit your needs, you can choose from road bikes, mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, and city bikes. You can also look at getting a bike that comes with an exercise mode, which will enable you to automatically track your progress and keep you motivated.
Yoga
As you know, you can practice yoga anywhere you want as long as you have the right equipment. In recent years, yoga outdoor has become popular globally because of its several advantages in comparison with an indoor one.
One of the most crucial benefits of practicing yoga outdoors is taking in the fresh air while improving your sense of self by practicing with a sense of balance and mindfulness. Since the exercise is done in an outdoor environment, you’ll get a different perspective of what you see, which makes your workout more exciting.
You can easily take up yoga in the park, in your little balcony or garden, even at your local beach. To start practicing yoga outdoor, you need to have a comfortable mat to lie on, a yoga strap, and some essential oils to keep mosquitoes, insects away. You can also use a meditation book or audio recordings to help you stay focused during your practice.
Hiking
The benefits of hiking are numerous, but for now, let’s talk about just one: it helps you increase your endurance. As you’ll need to hike uphill and downhill for a long time, your metabolism will increase by 30%, and calories will be burned at a higher rate than usual.
That’s why hiking is an excellent way to improve your cardiovascular system, control your weight and benefit your heart and lungs.
If you’ve never hiked before, you can start small, so you won’t get tired so quickly. You don’t have to walk too fast, choose your own pace, which means you can set yourself a realistic goal for how much you want to improve.
In case you’re planning on going on a long hike, make sure you pack the right things. You’ll need a good pair of hiking boots, a waterproof jacket, and some water-resistant pants. Additionally, you can bring your camera, just in case you stumble upon something interesting.
Swimming
Studies have shown that swimming has a positive effect on our cardiovascular system, respiratory system, and bone density. Plus, it’s also a great workout for your core and helps to reduce stress levels and improve sleep quality.
When it comes to swimming at outdoor pools, it’s important to know what you are getting into. Outdoor pools are usually built differently than indoor ones. That’s because they’re not designed to have a constant temperature year-round.
Gardening
You may get surprised about this last activity, but gardening is actually one of the best outdoor activities to have better health.
You don’t a big garden to benefit from gardening. You can still start by planting some flowers around your house. There are plenty of things that you can do during gardening, such as weeding, watering, mulching, composting, and even harvesting. All of these activities are good for your heart, lungs, and bones. By doing them regularly, you can also prevent illnesses such as arthritis and osteoporosis.
Final Thought
It’s no secret that getting out into nature has numerous benefits, from reducing stress to improving health. It’s also been proven that taking some time outside can help you lead a more active lifestyle, which in turn, improves your physical and mental well-being. No matter which one of the above 6 activities you choose, take it small first and show up patiently.
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