Being physically active has numerous benefits for your physical and mental health. It’s a great thing for your body and mind to spend some time doing outside activities in the fresh air, letting the steam out, depressurizing and improve your fitness. If you need ideas on what great outdoor activities you could do, here are a couple of those.
1. Yoga – The Balance of Body And Mind
Yoga is great because you can do it anywhere – all you need is your yoga mat, and you’re set to go. Find some quiet place outside and let it go. Yoga has incredible benefits to your mental health – it motivates you to focus on your breathing, which is a form of meditation and calms you down.
Another advantage of yoga is that it comes in many forms and types, meaning you can practice yoga regardless of your age and physical fitness. You being outside, focusing on the position (asana), and your breathing teaches you how to live in the moment, free of the everyday worries. It automatically means the stress level will reduce while the endorphins are releasing. In the long term, you will notice that you are closer to emotional balance.
2. Cycling and Enjoying The Scenery
Regarding physical benefits, cycling is great for your lower body strength, especially your calves, hamstrings, and quads. It is an excellent cardio which helps your cardiovascular system. What makes it an excellent activity for people with joint pains is that it’s a non-weight-bearing activity. And lastly, it improves your coordination and balance.
Regarding mental health benefits, cycling is very
3. Hiking – Meditative and Fun
Hiking offers the opportunity to take your time while enjoying the scenery. Additionally, hiking in nature is a wonderful experience. You get to spend a lot of calories without actually noticing it because you’ll be too busy exploring the surroundings and soaking it all in. This type of outdoor activity is especially beneficial for those who are feeling depressed or sad. When you expose yourself to nature: the trees, the flowers, the natural sounds, you will create a connection to it all, calming your mind and letting go of the worries.
If it’s possible, explore hiking holidays offers to give yourself a couple of days of pure joy. Being able to hike and explore new surroundings is incredibly beneficial. You will change the surroundings and have a lovely relaxing holiday while still being able to be physically active. And you can choose the pace -it can be a relaxing walk or a more strenuous workout.
4. Swimming – Give in To the Water
If you are lucky to have a river or a lake nearby, don’t miss the chance to rip the benefits. As soon as the weather gets hot enough, take your towel and go for a swim. Swimming is excellent for the whole body because there is no pressure for the body in water. There is a minimum chance of an injury so even people recovering from one can take up swimming. Still, you will improve your muscles because the water provides a specific resistance while you swim. It also improves your flexibility.
Mental benefits are obvious – you can relax while swimming, enjoying the water. When you merely float, you can turn off all your senses and just feel the sense of calmness overwhelming you. Also, the rhythmic movements you make while swimming represents a form of meditation.
5. Paddling – Enjoy the Water in A Different Way
You won’t be in the water to enjoy it. As much as outdoor swimming is excellent, it is impossible to do it throughout all the year (in most cases) due to weather conditions. Still, paddling is fantastic because you can do it almost any day if you wear appropriate clothes.
You can enjoy the serenity of the water and work on your upper body strength. Your shoulders, arms, back, and chest will increase its strength, but you will also get stronger legs. Paddling is one of the low-impact activities, so there is no fear of getting injured while paddling. It is a cardiovascular activity that can calm you down! So, if you are feeling depressed or anxious – merely take the paddles and go to the nearest lake or river. river.
Outdoor activities are so beneficial that you should always prefer them over other forms of exercise. They are good for your physical fitness, but the aspect of mental health is what makes them so unique.
Author Bio
Nina is the author of this post. Nina is a lifestyle blogger, yoga aficionado and a travel enthusiast with a distinctive taste for home decor. She’s passionate about learning new things and sharing meaningful ideas. In her free time, Nina loves to design clothes and furniture. If you wanna see what she’s up to you can find her on Twitter.Want to guest post for Jihi Elephant? Learn more here.
