Type ‘The Great Outdoors’ into Google and you can expect to find the top results dominated by all things camping with the odd Dan Aykroyd fan page thrown in. Surprisingly however, you’ll see very few results related to outdoor fitness and the long list of health benefits associated with it.

Now, as an outdoor fitness company you may be forgiven for thinking we are a little biased when it comes to the strengths of exercising outdoors. The fact is you’d probably be right. That being said, the research that supports it is extensive and for those of you who are yet to experience the mud on your face or puddle in your shoes that can accompany an outdoor-based workout, this blog is for you.

1. Vitamin D:
If you’ve not yet heard about Vit D you’ve been severely missing out. Vit D can be acquired from sunlight during any time of year and has a number of health benefits. Research has shown it to improve cognitive functioning and positively affect your feelings of wellbeing. Furthermore, it helps fight against stress, depression, cancers and many other illnesses.

2. Mental health:
One of the most recent studies that looked into indoor versus outdoor exercise found that a staggering 50% more people reported feeling less stressed and anxious after they had performed exercise in a natural environment. The main theory to surface here suggested that our brain turns down its stress response when placed in a natural environment, as that is where it feels most comfortable.

3. Increase your energy:
Ever been told to ‘get some fresh air’ when you’re feeling sluggish? There’s a good reason. A 2009 study in Rochester showed that 20 minutes of fresh air could give you the same energy boost you’d get from a cup of coffee…that’s two reasons to get outside!

4. Convenience:
I still maintain to this day that the most frequently heard sentence for any PT from their clients is ‘I just don’t have enough time to exercise’. Working-out outdoors can be the perfect remedy for this particular barrier to exercise. Getting outside takes next to no preparation and you can even incorporate it into your daily routine. Parking an extra mile or two away from the office and running the last part of your journey is just one example of how easily you can squeeze a workout into your day by exercising outside. Not to mention the fact that it can be a lot cheaper. Another common barrier to exercise!

5. You’re likely to work harder outside:
Running on a treadmill can be considerably easier than facing the elements outside. Things like natural gradients, wind and varying temperatures all add up to make your workouts harder meaning you end up burning more calories than you do in the gym.

…and that’s why it really is, great outdoors!