ADD A LITTLE SUNSHINE TO YOUR WORKOUT

 

The benefit of exercising outdoors is that it’s a real mood booster. The beautiful scenery, lush green grass, and beautiful blue skies are a perfect canvas to motivate your workout. The natural environment and beautiful colors will help boost your immune system.

Apply sunscreen and step outside. Exercising outdoors releases feel-good hormones, increases serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins which make us happy people. Exercising outdoors exposes us to the sunshine vitamin, Vitamin D. When exposed to sunlight, your skin makes Vitamin D from cholesterol. The sun’s rays affect cholesterol in the skin cells, providing the energy for this synthesis to occur. Vitamin D has many roles in the body and is essential for maintaining strong and healthy bones. 

Some ideas to explore exercise outdoors:

  • Take a walk at the Waterfront Park or walk the Egg Lawn signature loop at The Parklands. Incorporate sit-to-stands, push-ups, or one-legged squats on a park bench to help break up the monotony of a walk. Walking with a friend (remember to keep social distance during this time) or family members in the park can help motivate and increase self-esteem. 
  • Draw hopscotch with chalk on your sidewalk and hop along with your kiddos. It is a great aerobic activity! 
  • Walk your dog. Your pets need the outdoor release as well!
  • Jump rope, hula hoop, cartwheel, or do handstands. Be a kid again!
  • Wear a helmet and take a bike ride.
  • Create a seek and find list and go on a nature scavenger hunt in your neighborhood.
  • Lay a yoga mat in the grass and strengthen your core and back by trying the birddog exercise. Start on all fours (knees and hands) and extend your opposite arm and leg up at the same time. This is a great balance exercise! (Do 15 reps each side). 

and remember...

Always stretch after a workout. Release your shoulders by rolling them forward and backward. Stretch your hamstring by placing one leg straight up on a park bench. Lean over slightly to feel the stretch in your leg. Switch legs after a 30-second hold.

Stay active outdoors and get at least 30 minutes of movement a day to better your life in the best way!

Posted on 2020-06-09 by BY ALISON CARDOZA • PHOTOS BY DICK ARNSPIGER
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