Outdoor Gym By: webmaster

Everyone needs to exercise to stay healthy. Unfortunately, most of us don't exercise because of time or its just well boring. Luckily for us there are outdoor activities can offer many of the same benefits that a gym does. However in my mind the outdoor activities are far more enjoyable while still getting my heart pumping, my blood flowing, my mussels moving and my mind de-stressing.

I found this interesting tidbit online at http://depression.about.com/od/exercise/qt/exercisetip.htm

If you're feeling depressed, try to get outdoor exercise rather than exercising inside a building. In 2007, a British charity called Mind released results of a study it commissioned on the benefits of outdoor exercise. In this study, it was found that walking in a park-like setting was more beneficial for mood and self-esteem compared to walking in a shopping center. It was unclear why this was true, although it could be the fact that the participants were getting more exposure to sunlight.

Here are just some ideas I came up with.

• Skateboarding
• Skating
• Jogging
• Running
• Geocaching
• Walking / Hiking
• Backpacking
• Boulder Hopping
• Rock Climbing
• Wood Chopping
• Swimming
• Diving / Scuba / Snorkeling
• Sailboating
• Canoing / Kayaking
• Surfing
• Fishing (as long as you are not just sitting there staring at the water)
• Trail Crew Work
• Playing sports (Football, Baseball, Soccer, Hokey, Backetball, etc)
• Ride a Bike
• Caving
• Snowboarding
• Skiing
• Archery
• Obviously with more thought this list could grow a lot longer. The important thing here is, the list gets you thinking and inspires you to get outside and move!

Please feel free to add to this with your own thoughts in the comment section below.