Free-range Fitness

While it may be a bit over-eager to throw on the shorts once the temperature hits 10 degrees Celsius, warmer weather does offer fantastic opportunities for a jaunt in the elements. Aside from reducing our energy consumption, foregoing the controlled-climate gym for the outdoors brings some additional benefits.

In fact, there may be some psychological perks—beyond the mental health benefits of exercise in general—to working out in the fresh air. A 2005 study conducted by the City University of New York found that women who regularly exercised outdoors in parks felt that nature helped to revitalize their senses and restore their mental capacity. A similar study conducted by the University of Essex in 2005 revealed that individuals exposed to images of the outdoors while exercising reported higher levels of self-esteem post-workout than those who were not.

While there are dozens of ways to be active outdoors throughout the year, the summer months offer more options and motivations to take your workout outside. Below, we outline the most affordable, accessible and “green” ways to exercise and connect with you’re environment.

Running

Running is one of the least expensive ways to get a workout, according to Running Room president John Stanton. "You only need shoes," said Stanton. "We leave a lot of footprints, but in a healthy way."

Running outdoors may also provide physical challenges that cannot be found in the gym—Stanton notes that many people tell him that they find running outside more difficult than on a treadmill.

"People will say that they have no problem running a six minute per kilometer pace, and then they go outside and find it much harder," he says. In order to simulate running outside on an indoor treadmill, the machine would need to be set on a two percent incline and a fan would need to be blowing on the runner to substitute for natural wind resistance, Stanton says.

A regular runner himself, Stanton also highlighted the psychological benefits of running outdoors. "When you go outside, it really is a great mental uplift," said Stanton. "Indoors, it becomes the drudgery of getting on that treadmill and getting those calories burned."

Cycling

If your bike is collecting dust and you’re feeling hesitant to take it out alone, do not fear— communities across the country have cycling groups where you can ride with others who are enthusiastic about fitness. While some may choose to venture out on their bikes during the winter months, most enjoy cycling during the spring, summer and fall. The Ontario Cycling Association has numerous groups that ride for both physical and social purposes, with many groups heading out together for picnics or coffee as the end goal, says Brendan Arnold, the high performance manager at the association.

"There is a huge social scene with cycling—you don't have to race," says Arnold. Aside from the social opportunities, cycling also offers a low-impact form of exercise.

In comparison to other sports, "people generally find that they can ride for longer period of time without pain in their knees," he says.

While Arnold stressed that both indoor and outdoor training is important for serious cyclists, he did note that the natural hills and valleys that one encounters while exercising outside can be beneficial in varying your heart rate and building up resistance.

Cross Training

It may be hard to make the conventional gym carbon-neutral, but GreenGym, a company based out of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, has come close. GreenGym manufactures and installs outdoor fitness equipment—everything from elliptical trainers to weight machines to stationary bikes—that are powered entirely by the motion of the user. The outdoor exercise-equipment installations are located in public spaces and parks, making fitness accessible to everyone, according to Guy Chaham, executive director and owner of GreenGyms.

"It's a benefit for those who cannot go inside," says Chaham, referring to the high membership costs of many fitness clubs. The gyms are free to use because they are paid for by municipalities who then install them in public parks, in the same manner as a children’s playground, said Chaham.

The green gym idea originated in China, where the government installed outdoor fitness equipment in parks throughout the country as part of a national fitness campaign prior to the 2008 Summer Olympics. There are currently 32 GreenGym installations across Canada, from Newfoundland to British Columbia.

Aside from the physical benefits, Chaham said that the GreenGym can help foster a sense of community in a neighbourhood because it can be used by a broad demographic of people.

"Normal playgrounds are good for kids aged 2 to 12—these [GreenGyms] are good for 12 to 120," says Chaham.

While the GreenGym does allow for a comfortable environment for those feeling gym-phobic, Chaham acknowledges it’s not the right fitness option for everybody.

"If you want to be a body builder, it's not for you," says Chaham with a laugh.

Read more about the growing trend in fresh air fitness here.