Outdoor Fitness & Why It's Good For You

Several years ago, I got certified in Outdoor Fitness through Tina Vindum’s program. Her background as an Elite Athlete led her to promoting Outdoor Fitness. My Fitness Training and this site is based on this concept. This post is based on her work. It’s possible you may have not heard of her- so I think this information is very important to share!

What Is Outdoor Fitness?

Outdoor Fitness is a refreshing approach to total body-mind conditioning.  It's a way of combining any outdoor environment with traditional style fitness exercises.  This is a very enjoyable way to work out and has a great appeal to a broad population.  Outdoor fitness is efficient and can drastically improve your health and well being.  

The outdoors really is the best gym in the world. You can take advantage of any outdoor terrain or environment. From the mountains to meadows, exercising outdoors is the best place to get into shape.  Every space is your own fitness facility to create however you like.

Key Components of Outdoor Fitness Include:

 No Gym Membership Required: You use the always available outdoor environment at no cost. You can incorporate a variety of terrain and places for a stimulating and challenging workout.

Complete Training: A fitness program that includes cardiovascular, flexibility, balance, mental focus, emotional resilience, muscular strength and endurance.

Sensory Awareness: Spending more time in the outdoors enhance your senses: sight, smell, sound, and even taste will improve

Mindfulness: With outdoor fitness, you can integrate breathing techniques to become more centered, relaxed and focused.

 Environmental Integration: You can learn how to interact with the environment to prevent injuries and enhance your training through relying on natural forces of gravity. I think it’s much easier to get into a “flow” state in the outdoors vs. a gym.

Emotional Power: Can help you to recognize emotional triggers and help to alleviate them. Tina shares stories in her program where clients even stopped going to therapy! You’ll gain confidence and become inspired by your new found abilities.

Through getting fit outdoors, you will be more inspired than ever. I am confident you will feel a renewed sense of well being and will be more likely to stay with a long term fitness routine.

Disadvantages to the Gym

Okay, so I might have some people want to throw tomatoes at me right now, but hear me out.  The gym setting has features that are not as conducive to your overall health and well being. The fluorescent lighting, stuffy smelly air, loud music, tv's (often with the negative news on), noise from the treadmills, people huffing and grunting, body sweat and a whole lot of germs!  Compare this to being outdoors with fresh air, real lighting (where you can get Vitamin D from the Sun), birds chirping,  and peace and quiet.  (Unless you hike Camelback in Phx).  :)

Benefits of Outdoor Fitness

 To conclude, I want to leave you with the Benefits of Outdoor Fitness Training (Based on Tina Vindum’s Research)

• Positive effect on body composition
• Positive effect on your self image
• Increase in energy
• Enhances motivation
• Decreases stress and anxiety
• Decreases instances of depression
• Enhances greater emotional power and control
• Improve mental acuity
• Helps to prevent cardiovascular disease and other chronic illness
• Increases bone density
• Decreases cholesterol levels and incidence of Type II Diabetes
• Promotes social connection
• Improves sense of well being
• Enhances sensory awareness
• Enhances sense of being connected to the natural world

 With all these benefits, it is no wonder that those who exercise outdoors are typically happier and healthier people. The outcomes are just too great to ignore. A holistic approach to fitness that benefits your mind, body, and soul. Next time you’re getting ready to go to the gym, I encourage you to head outdoors instead!