The other day, as I was about to leave home for a yoga class, it suddenly struck me as silly to spend the next 90 minutes indoors on such a spectacularly sunny morning. So I rolled out my mat in my own backyard and did my poses there, blissful beneath the blue sky.
Outdoor physical activity — or “green exercise” — has psychological and physical benefits, says Professor Jules Pretty, head of biological sciences at the University of Essex in England and author of The Earth Only Endures: Reconnecting with Nature and Our Place in It (Earthscan).
Examples: According to Professor Pretty’s studies, outdoor walks boost self-esteem about four times as much as indoor walks of the same duration, and they are more effective at relieving tension and depression. Activities that involve changes in terrain (hiking, cross-country skiing) are ideal for improving balance.
Green exercise makes good, simple sense. Why trudge on a treadmill when you can ride a bike around town, roller-skate in the park or just dig in your garden? To socialize while you work out, join a tennis league or toss a Frisbee with friends. To make walks even more rewarding, volunteer to walk the dogs for your local animal shelter.
My new resolution: I’ll stay inside if it’s blistering hot or icy cold—but otherwise, I’ll expand my definition of “good weather.” It’s surprisingly exhilarating fun to run in the rain.
