6 Benefits of an Outdoor Workout

1. Vitamin D - Getting outside will help you get your daily dose of vitamin D. During these cold season months, this can be very important. Vitamin D can boost immune cells' production of microbe-fighting proteins that fight viruses.

2. Fresh Air - When indoors you usually don't really know what air filtration system your dealing with. So, you're often breathing recycled air and depending on who else is around you, you could be breathing in an array of viruses. Get outside for space and fresh air.

3. Dynamic Environment - The great outdoors is a less controlled environment. In indoor gyms you often have mats, taped down cords, well-maintenance equipment, air conditioning, warning signs, staff, etc. When outdoors you lose most if not all of this. You suddenly need to deal with curbs, mud puddles, cars, animals, gravel, rocks, uneven surfaces, etc. Factoring in these things creates a more dynamic environment that forces you to engage parts of your body and brain you otherwise wouldn't.

4. Cost Saving - Getting outside is often the more cost-effective option. It doesn't require a membership, expensive equipment, or room in your home.

5. Connection To Environment/Community - An outdoor workout in the city or a suburb can put you directly in touch with your community instead of being secluded away indoors. An outdoor workout amongst nature can give you a better respect and appreciation for the great outdoors. These both can lead to a perspective change that will result in you investing more into meaningful spaces.

6. Join Any of Your Friends and Family - You're not restricted to only working out with the people you know who have a gym membership or by yourself. You can join anyone on a workout when it's done in a common space that's free to everyone.

4 Tips For a Better Outdoor Workout

1. If you can, surround yourself with trees or visit a coastline when working out outside. These places will have the cleanest air. Trees filter pollutants and provide oxygen. Coastlines bring in clean, fresh air off the ocean.

2. Be aware of your surroundings. Don't get tunnel vision. Respect that working out outdoors requires an appreciation for the outdoors and can benefit you more when you use the challenges it can present as a way to build skillsets you otherwise wouldn't.

3. Work with what you have and don't get hung up on not living somewhere that has a beautiful outdoor setting. Instead create a balance between getting outside and working out indoors. And plan ahead to visit other places and incorporate your workout into the outing.

4. Don't try to fit your very strict weightlifting routine into an outdoor workout. Change things up. That's one of the best things about getting outside occasionally.

6 Exercises to Try Outside