Natural Stress Relief - Outdoor Fitness

It's May and the sun is finally out on a daily basis. I don't know about you, but I really start to get energized this time of year. Something about the sun perks me up. I enjoy getting outdoors. It makes me feel renewed, and it makes my workouts even better.

In fact, research shows that nature can help you regain focus. The reason is that nature doesn't require your undivided attention. The hustle and bustle of everyday life is very demanding of our attention whereas nature simply surrounds you. It provides things for you to look at and take in for your enjoyment. Think about it, when was the last time you were in nature and felt stressed? I bet it hasn't happened.

Here are some activities you can do outdoors to reduce stress and increase your fitness at the same time:

• Hiking – this is an obvious one. Find any trail and just go for a walk! Simple as that. It doesn't have to be a long hike either. There are plenty of websites that will show you all kinds of trails to hike that are near you. Find one that is compatible for you and enjoy the scenery.
• Mountain biking – this will require you to have an appropriate bike, but it doesn't mean you have to ride rugged terrain. Again, search the internet for a biking trail that is compatible for you and, as always, enjoy the scenery.
• Outdoor Yoga – this is as simple as joining a yoga class that takes place in a park. I can't think of a better environment to do yoga in.
• Swimming – this doesn't mean you have to swim laps in a lake. Enjoy yourself! Jump in and out of the water and see how big of a splash you can make. After an hour, I'm sure you'll discover you got plenty of exercise and enjoyed yourself in the process

The bottom line is just to get outside and take in what nature has to offers. Something as simple as sitting on your back porch and watching the birds can go a long way in reducing your stress and getting you feeling renewed.