Outdoor Exercise vs Indoor Excercise - The Energy Coach
Exercise Outdoors

Outdoor Exercise vs Indoor Excercise

Why outdoors exercise is so much better for you.

Don’t get me wrong, exercise whether it’s indoors or outdoors, high intensity or low intensity is better than no exercise at all. But there are marked benefits from exercise in the fresh open air as opposed to being indoors. What better opportunity to explore our natural world as Covid-19 restrictions lift and we enter spring.

Do you remember the first lockdown? One of the positives to come from it was the opportunity to reconnect with our local surroundings and, from the well-trodden and worn-down footpaths in Chiddingfold, where I live, most of the village took lockdown 1.0 as a time to enjoy the fresh air and connect with the local environment as well.

How good does it feel to go for a walk, to breathe clean air, to move, to escape and get away from life, even just for 5 minutes? Here are some of the study-backed benefits of being outdoors:

  • Greater effective benefits compared to indoor exercise for feeling more active and energised.
  • Increased exercise adherence: people who exercise outside are more likely to stick to it in the long term.
  • Compared with indoor exercise participants in one study felt greater enjoyment and satisfaction.
  • Compared with exercising indoors, exercising in natural environments was associated with greater feelings of revitalization and positive engagement.
  • Decreases in tension, confusion, anger, and depression, and increased energy were also reported.

As the energy coach, I show my clients ways they can improve their physical energy and mental attitude and strongly recommend a little exercise on a daily basis, ideally outside. And there really is something for everyone outside. Here are a few of my favourites:

  • Try openwater swimming, which has seen a huge increase in popularity because of it’s accessibility and the amazing feeling and health benefits it gives,
  • Cycling, how many cyclists do you now see every weekend on social rides?
  • Fitness classes are fun, varied, social and accessible to most. The best ones are tailored to your ability levels too.
  • Yoga. The ultimate reconnection with yourself and nature and perfect for increasing a sense of wellbeing and relieving stress.
  • Running, my favourite. There’s nothing quite like rural running for a sense of freedom and escapism.

Whatever you choose to do, make a pact with yourself to get outside every day for just 5 minutes and simply mooooove.

Matt Jordan – the Energy Coach