Are you stuck in a rut when it comes to your exercise routine? Think about how much your environment affects your every day mood. You wouldn’t want to catch your Z’s on a busy street corner, would you? Your body will get tired of uncomfortable spaces, which may worsen your overall performance. Especially monotonous routines, for instance, will do for your body what an uncomfortable bed will do for your sleep habits.
The most elemental way to wake up the body is through a natural retreat. I’d say our natural surroundings live up to their reputations as therapeutic centers of serenity, so jump on in—or out, I suppose—and see what you’ve been missing!
Is this for me?
If you’re bored of staring at the gym wall, the evolving environment can be a cure. You’ve probably noticed that talking to a friend, or listening to a favorite album can make tedious exercise go by more quickly. So help yourself get past the tough parts with a few natural distractions. Pay attention to the sights, sounds, smells, and inhabitants of your surroundings, and time will fly, I promise.
If you carry stress from work or home, getting away from it all may have a positive effect on your unsteady mood. One of the best ways to distress before a workout is to unwind outside and take big, deep breaths. Not just air, but stretches in wide, open spaces and the quiet buzz of nature will contribute to the calming effect. Parks, nature trails, and beaches are often more quiet than your home and public places. Don’t feel like traveling far? Vacation to the backyard for a soothing yoga session among the trees.
Lastly, did you know that natural sites have characteristics that are extremely similar to those that you encounter on your everyday routine? For example, if you exercise on dry, hilly sand, you will get an intense workout in your legs that will prepare you for tough terrain you may come across on your walk to work, or up a steep hill. You won’t have to work as hard or appear as exhausted when you perform these every day functions. Sometimes people who workout in gyms lose sight of this ultimate goal (or at least what I think should be an ultimate goal of any healthy person). They isolate muscles by using machines, when in reality they could get a true multi-purpose workout from a hike in half the time.
Oh and visiting nature is free, ladies. So live it up!