Best Outdoor Activities for a Fit and Healthy Body

While spending time in the gym will shape you up, taking your exercising outside has myriad of benefits for body and mind. Physical activity is highly promoted in recent years, with the growing number of health conditions connected to a sedentary lifestyle. People even travel to other countries like Australia, Iceland, and the USA to experience some of their diverse nature and riveting landscapes.

But to have a fit and healthy body, you first need to decide what kind of exercise is ideal for you. This will help you not to give up easily when it becomes hard, and inspire you to keep on going. With that in mind, here are the best outdoor activities to choose the perfect one or more from that will improve your life.

Running is more enjoyable with friends.

Running is present in human lives probably since the dawn of time, although first records put it in Ancient Greece. This makes it a sport with centuries of proven benefits to health, and enough time to perfect its many different forms from slower jogging to short distance sprints. Those who are shy to run in public can use many trails available in nature or join a running group.

Additionally, this is also why running is a great outdoor activity to do with your family and friends. Moreover, running is an activity you can do anywhere, even if you travel out of town or live in a big city. Since running has a huge impact on your joints, buy appropriate shoes and start slow with mandatory warming up before and after each run.

Tennis is for everyone.

When it comes to tennis, people tend to underestimate it, due to its enormous popularity and tradition which follows it. However, this is a perfect sport to enhance the upper body strength, without having to spend time in the gym. Unfortunately, tennis is not widely available due to the specificity of the court, but you will have no trouble finding space to play at local clubs or sport centers.

Tennis is more of a casual sport, although it is equally demanding as any physical activity, with constant running and using strength to send the ball across the court. If you really want to be a serious opponent, you will have to pair it with regular exercise like HIIT training to stay in shape. But if not, it will be a perfect way to spend more time outside and get some exercise.

Swimming will improve your posture.

Swimming is one of the best outdoor activities for those who spend a lot of time in a sedentary position, because it improves posture and affects the whole musculoskeletal system. During winter, you can either replace swimming with another physical activity or you could go to indoor pools. However, pools tend to be crowded, especially in the summer so taking the swimming to nature may be the best move.

Usually, there is a public beach on the seaside, lake, or river where you can go every day and have your share of swimming. Many benefits of swimming are that it also eliminates stress, besides toning your body, and strengthening your muscles. It is also an exercise that even those out of shape can do, so it is a fine way to increase your stamina before you start with some other, more demanding physical activity.

Yoga is an ideal activity for your backyard.

Most people see yoga as an indoor activity, but actually this a perfect exercise you can do in your backyard, on the porch or in the park. Basically, all you need is a mat and some comfortable clothes that will allow you to move freely. Another plus side of yoga is that it is a great family activity so you will always have a company to do it, as well as keep everyone in shape.

Besides giving you a fit and healthy body, yoga is also ideal for people who are exposed to a lot of stress on a daily basis, whether through work or personal life. It uses special breathing technique and meditation to help you calm down and relax, so you will start feeling mental benefits immediately. That makes it a perfect body-mind exercise since when practiced regularly, yoga will improve your posture and flexibility.

Hiking is a trendy outdoor activity.

Since the rise in active holidays, hiking has become very popular and people gladly turn to professional guided walks like Life’s an Adventure for the ultimate experience. You can even go on a days-long hike with camping, local food, and transportation readily available, and all you have to do is show up. But active holidays also increased the popularity of hiking on the local level, and so people tend to practice it during the weekend.

Hiking in the fresh air and open space far from technology and urban chaos has both mental and physical benefits for a person. And the best thing about it is that you don't have to be in perfect shape to go on a walk in nature, and so even the beginners can find their perfect trail. Just make sure to wear appropriate clothing and footwear to be comfortable and ready for any weather conditions and terrains.

Cycling will keep your whole body involved.

You probably noticed that many gyms now offer spin classes to its members which are actually indoor cycling. While that is a nice solution for colder months, the moment the days become warmer it’s time to bring out your bicycle and take it for a spin around the neighborhood. And once you feel the weather is right, go among the trees and enjoy a nice day of cycling in the fresh air.

Not only is cycling going to keep you fit, but your health will also improve, starting from blood flow and all the way to boosting your mood. However, before you decide that cycling is the outdoor activity for you, learn as much as you can about different types of bikes and get yourself an appropriate one. Always bring enough water and fresh fruits to give your body strength to overcome exhaustion.

In the End

Whichever type of exercise you choose from one of these best outdoor activities, make sure you chose the one you won't quit easily. A secret to having a fit and healthy body is being dedicated and consistent with the physical activity. If you can't travel for the weekend, an exercise in a nearby park or your backyard, just don't let excuses rule your life and ruin your health.