Outdoor Sports- Physical And Mental Wellbeing

Sportspeople know it well, doing workouts and training of various kinds in the open air stimulates serotonin, the good mood hormone that has a huge influence on work, in interpersonal relationships, and on the quality of sports performance itself.

Going for a run by sea, training in a pine forest, or running in a forest creates benefits that go beyond the aesthetic side to free the body from stress and tension. Inevitable then, breathe clean air and enter into full connection with yourself.

Below we will see some valuable advice to follow, to make the training experience even more enjoyable!

Running Shoes- Impossible To Run Without Them 

The Running shoe man, or woman, can not miss if you decide to go for a run outdoors. Their function is to always keep the foot stable, ensuring high-level cushioning on the ground.

The quality of the running shoes allows the wearer not to run into accidents on the way, tripping or taking wrong turns.

They usually feature aerodynamic designs, created with light and comfortable materials and the closures are made purely of laces, as the stretch bands do not allow the foot to remain firmly in the shoe.

Among the trendiest men’s running shoes it is possible to refer to 4 categories:

Minimal type: which includes those shoes with very low weight, oscillating between 200 and 400 grams, perfect for those who love to move in an agile and snappy way. The sole consists of a single layer, slightly higher in the heel area. Having a modest size, it is not suitable for people over a certain weight;

Intermediate Type: perfect for those who like a very high level of cushioning, as they have supports inside to keep the foot firmly inside the shoe. Intermediate shoes are perfect for people with a heavyweight;

Superstable type: optimal for those who like to feel their foot firmly in the shoe both in the elevation and landing phases. The internal part of the shoe appears reinforced, perfect for those who have an incorrect posture or a high body weight;

Spiked type: very similar to football boots, it has studs all over the sole, specifically designed to obtain better friction on the ground. This type of running shoe for men/women is very popular with those who participate in marathons and races of various kinds.

Each of these types allows high-quality performance, even with different characteristics suitable for different uses and physicists.

Running Outdoors- Choose The Right Seats And Company 

Choosing where to do physical activity and who to do it with is very important, as it allows us to make training enjoyable and less tiring.

Especially in the months of the year when the temperatures are very high, it is good to prefer shady places, close to bars or places where you can refresh yourself in case of need.

Therefore, the already beaten paths for walking or rootless open spaces in the pine forest are perfect.

If you choose woods or countryside areas, you have to pay attention to the soil, avoiding roots and stones, to avoid twists and falls.

Last but not least, the company of people with whom to share the training moment. Making a group can be enormously encouraging, it is enough simply to be two to make the sport less tiring and smooth.

Therefore, by following these few tips it is possible to transform a moment of outdoor sports into a regenerating and beneficial experience to be lived in total safety.

Training In The Open-Air: Benefits For Mind And Body

Today, training in the open air is the only way to keep fit, as traditional alternatives are impracticable (if not those of exercises to be done at home ). Despite the impossibility of choosing, this type of outdoor training offers a series of advantages and benefits that should not be underestimated.

This is not a sop to make the impossibility of going to the gym painless; training in the open air has always been a valid opportunity for one’s well-being, both physical and mental.

Today it is the only dimension available and for this reason not only should it not be underestimated, but also lived with greater intensity, being at the moment the only way to go to feel good.

Training the mind to train the body (and vice versa)

The advantages of training in the open air, as we will see, are many, but above all complete. We are talking about a type of training that has beneficial effects on both the mind and the body.

And if this kind of attention should never be forgotten, it often happens that some train at the expense of one or the other. The consequence that the result achieved is illusory well-being that soon vanishes, leaving a series of very critical consequences.

This is because our well-being is, by its nature, both mental and physical. There is no one without the other, in a sort of balance and virtuous circle where the improvement of one also produces the improvement of the other. Ignoring this dynamic means wasting your time and obtaining negative results on your health, physical and mental.

5 Benefits On The Mind

1. Concentration and motivation

Many kinds of research have shown that training in the open air is a great ally for improving concentration and motivation. The causes are different, from the ability of the open and natural environment to free the mind and release stress, to the characteristics of this space that offers continuous stimuli to the eye, unlike what happens in an enclosed space.

Furthermore, training in the open air increases motivation: seeing the goal approach is certainly more stimulating than a value on the treadmill display or several repetitions to be achieved.

2. Stress I don’t fear you

Everyone, more or less, is constantly exposed to stress, nervousness, and daily difficulties that affect good humor and tranquility. By training in the open air, our body increases the production of serotonin and reduces that of cortisol, two hormones that affect good mood and the perception of stress.

In addition, these hormones also improve rest and sleep, allowing you to dispose of fatigue and tiredness (not only physical) and achieve better psychophysical well-being.

3. Family-friendly training

Physical training, of any kind, is never about closing in on yourself, separating yourself from everything else, and focusing only on repetitions, sets, and intensities.

There is also a social aspect that should not be underestimated. Training in the company of your partner or friends is certainly an added value also in terms of motivation and fun.

Training with your children, preparing suitable activities, is a great opportunity to spend time together to devote to the well-being of adults and children.

4. Adaptation and problem-solving skills

Open spaces, unlike closed ones, are full of novelties and stimuli that also have the effect of improving our ability to adapt.

These constant stresses also affect the ability to find solutions to sudden problems (problem-solving). Also, for this reason, outdoor training is a type of activity often envisaged also in companies to foster the ability to manage the problems that arise daily in the workplace.

5. Recovery of a natural size

Among the less positive consequences of modernity, we find a certain denaturalization of the human being. Many of our activities are carried out on a virtual level and even the simplest things, such as travel, are hardly done physically and naturally.

Industrialization and mechanization have brought enormous benefits, but also such a relaxation that today the human being does not have conscious and direct contact with nature.

It is not a question of dreaming of a return to the stone age, but of recovering the good things in being in contact with nature. Training outdoors is one of the ways to do it healthily and positively.

The Benefits On The Body

1. Healthy, non-spoiled air

The first advantage that comes to mind when it comes to training outdoors is that of being able to do it by breathing healthy and clean air. This is true, of course, if you have the opportunity to do the exercises in a park or a green area, but it is also true if you train in an urban context.

This is because training indoors, be it the gym or your bedroom, often takes place in environments where the air, whether hot or cold, is stale.

The poor recirculation and exchange of air and the presence of heating or air conditioning constantly turned on negatively affect the air we breathe. Training in the open air, on the other hand, is a whole other story, much more beneficial for the lungs and the efficiency of training.

2. Breathe deeply: oxygenation of the muscles

What we have just said has a further beneficial effect on our body: it improves the oxygenation of the muscles. This is reflected in a better recovery of the physical effort of training than in the development of greater muscle strength. Training in the open air is very good!

3. The consumption of fat and calories

Perhaps not everyone knows that training in the open air is extremely positive also about the increased consumption of fat and calories. How is it possible? The movements we make in a closed place are monotonous and repetitive, performed in a context that is in many ways aseptic and perfect.

The “imperfections” of nature, such as the path that presents differences in height, changes in temperature, and obstacles cause a greater (and better) number of stresses to which the body must respond.

The result is that of greater energy expenditure, an optimal consumption of fats and calories, and a consequent improvement of one’s physical shape.

4. A precious ally: the sun

Moving caressed by a light breeze and the warm rays of the sun is the context that we all dream of to train. Often the weather conditions are less pleasant than we would like, but the beneficial contribution of the sun’s rays is always positive.

This is because the activity of the sun stimulates the production of Vitamin D in our body, one of the most important elements (and difficult to replace artificially) to improve the absorption of phosphorus and calcium. Furthermore, Vitamin D is essential to prevent many diseases, especially those of the bones, ensuring better flexibility of the joints.

5. Disease prevention

In addition to those of the skeletal system, outdoor training ensures great protection from numerous diseases and pathologies.

Contrary to popular belief, outdoor training reduces the risk of contracting viral diseases (flu, colds, etc.), as closed environments are very often perfect incubators for viruses and bacteria.

Furthermore, the oxygenation we have already talked about has a positive effect on cardiovascular activity, also reducing the risk of heart attacks and respiratory or heart diseases.