It’s by no means a secret that staying in shape does not only promote a better lifestyle, it also prolongs an average lifespan. While it’s hard to determine how long an individual will live, as there are a lot of idiosyncratic factors to be taken into consideration, the scientific community has landed on a general consensus that regular physical activity certainly promotes better health and increases your chances of a longer life. If you enjoy the outdoors and wish to introduce more physical activity into your life, here are the best outdoor activities for staying in shape.
Start by walking
It’s one of the best activities out there – soothing and meditative at the same time. A long walking session can improve your overall physical condition, ameliorate back pain and get your mood boosted. You’ve probably heard of the rule of 10,000 steps – which should take about one hour to complete. The rule postulates you should walk every day for at least 10,000 steps to stay fit. This, however, has never been proven completely, and the scientific community encourages people to get into the habit of walking at least two hours every day to keep their health up. You can also use this time for thinking and planning if you are a lone-wolf walker, or to socialize if one or several of your friends are willing to accompany you.
Work your way up to running
Running is the natural next step as your body gets used to the walking sessions. You can actually introduce light jogs during your walking sessions – short bursts of running that can last between one and three minutes, whenever you feel comfortable enough. If you are not in a particularly good shape, don’t force your body to run long chunks immediately. Don’t set unrealistic goals. Instead, work your way up, increase the length of your jogging bursts by a minute every two days. According to most medical research, an average adult can cut the time of physical activity by half if they introduce such an intense and demanding physical exercise into their schedule. Therefore, if you are a particularly busy person, develop your capability to run without stopping for half an hour and you’ll be golden.
Keep cycling
Cycling is one of the most popular, green activities on the planet right now. It is a good way to get around, especially if you live in cluttered urban areas. It is also a low-impact activity that is not particularly hard on your muscles and joints, but it generally provides noticeable health benefits. Therefore, cycling is very popular among people who are not used to strenuous exercise, yet they want to stay in good physical condition. If you can’t quite work your way up to consistent running sessions, purchase some high-quality Alpinestars biking and safety equipment and get pedaling.
Go on hiking adventures
Just like cycling, hiking is a good introduction to a potent mix of fun and physical activity. You can go on incredible countryside adventures if you decide to turn hiking into a habit. First off, you can start by getting familiarized with the natural landscapes that surround your hometown before proceeding onto challenging hiking vacations. Furthermore, time spent in nature is known to have a positive influence on your anxiety. When people are surrounded with lush greenery and tall trees for at least half an hour, stress levels in their body tend to plummet, and it can even help with curbing pessimistic thoughts.
Plunge into the water
Just like cycling, swimming will not strain your muscles and joints too much. However, it is a potent way to improve your physical prowess, develop your back and your chest and improve your breathing. Due to these specific benefits, swimming is very beneficial for older adults. It can help them strengthen their muscle mass and improve their motor function. This means they will be lowering their risk of accidents and falls, but even if that happens, their body will be better prepared to take the hit and minimize the damage.
Swimming can also help with arthritis no matter the age. It doesn’t exactly improve the state of joints but it definitely helps to loosen them up and improve their use without worsening their overall condition.
At the end of the day, no single type of exercise will cover all of your body’s needs for staying in shape. You need to keep an open mind and be ready to mix and match different physical activities to achieve the best effect. Thankfully, the great outdoors is a playground of diverse areas, from the concrete jungle of the inner city and intriguing corners of suburban areas, to the expansive forest-laden valleys and rocky mountain slopes.
Author
Mia Taylor is a fashion and beauty enthusiast from Sydney and writer for www.highstylife.com. She loves writing about her life experiences. Travelling and enjoying other cultures and their food with her husband is a big part of her life. She is always on the lookout for new trends in fashion and beauty, and considers herself an expert when it comes to lifestyle tips.
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