---
title: Take Exercise Outside - Real Balance Certified Health and Wellness Coach Training
description: Got a case of workout burnout? Hit nature’s gym. Exercising on the beach, in a park or on a trail will challenge you in new ways, awaken your sense...
date: 2012-11-09
---



# Take Exercise Outside

Got a case of workout burnout? Hit nature’s gym. Exercising on the beach, in a park or on a trail will challenge you in new ways, awaken your senses, and invigorate your soul.![images](https://realbalance.com/images/stories/images.jpg)

Beyond the shear physics of what walking in sand, running over rough terrain or hill climbing can do for the body, the visuals, the texture, even the smells make it a full sensory experience.  Just being outside in nature slows a person down and introduces us to a calmer way of being.




 


 

T**he Perks of Green Exercise**



![is577034](https://realbalance.com/images/stories/is577034.jpg)Research confirms what we’ve known all along: An outdoor workout can deliver even more psychological and emotional benefits than pounding the treadmill and any physical activity in nature counts; cycling, horseback riding, gardening, fishing, skiing, hiking, walking etc. Here’s some of what you stand to gain by heading outside.




*** Increased productivity**:
Frances Kuo, PhD., a researcher and cognitive psychologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign has found that natural outdoor spaces can actually boost your concentration and your patience – which can help put your goals within reach.
*** Better Mental health:**
A recent British review of studies on the impact of exercising in nature shows that a mere five minutes of outdoor activity can have a significant effect on self esteem.
*** Heightened Alertness:**
A 2001 review found that green spaces enhanced effectiveness in daily challenges by reducing mental fatigue.
* M**ore Joie De Vivre;**
Simply being in nature can trigger peak experiences comparable to a spiritual break through, according to eco-psycholigist John Davis, PhD., of Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado.



RESOURCES:



http://www.outdoorfitness.com



http://www.getoutdoorfit.com



*- Adapted from Whole Living Magazine, August 2010*