The top 5 reasons to train outside in the Inner West

20 Oct The top 5 reasons to train outside in the Inner West

With the warmer weather here, it is now the perfect time to get outside for some serious training and exercise.

And being based in the Inner West, there is no end to some great parks to inspire you such as Sydney Park in Alexandria, Camperdown Park, Enmore Park and Erskineville Park.

And if that wasn’t enough of a reason, here are my top 5 reasons to take your training outdoors:

1. Get more Vitamin D

Most people I train spend their day working at a computer indoors and often don’t see the light of day. But we all need some Vitamin D to maintain good health and to keep our bones and muscles strong and healthy. The best source of vitamin D is from the sun, though UV radiation levels vary depending on location, time of year, time of day, cloud coverage and the environment.

2. You can do so much more

Training at home or at the gym is good – any type of training is beneficial. But I love training outside as you have so much more space and can do a lot of different exercises. We all fall into the trap of doing the same thing week in, week out but it is important to change our routine to shock the muscles and keep improving your fitness and changing your body.

3. Not just physical but mental too

It’s not called the great outdoors for nothing – training in a beautiful environment injects a boost to your mood and can help fight anxiety and stress. Training outdoors in a new environment gives you added  mental stimulation too.

Fresh air and increased oxygen helps release the feel-good brain chemical, serotonin – meaning your outdoor training sessions not only helps keep you fit and healthy, but puts you in a great frame of mind.

4. You can train whenever you want.

The outdoors is always ready to go – you don’t have to wait for a class, no waiting in line for the running machine and no queues for the weights machine. Plus you don’t have to worry about using germ infested equipment or worry about air conditioning that always seems too hot or too cold – you can focus on the fresh air and sunshine which will give you more energy to train.

The only thing you may have to look out for is the now and then over enthusiastic dog which wants to get up close to you to see what you are up to (like a naughty puppy which ran away with my markers).

5. You work harder

Research has proven that exercising outside requires more energy, forcing our bodies to get better workouts and burn extra calories and fat. Outdoor elements such as increased temperature, wind and hills provide a natural resistance and make our bodies work harder to get better results.

And when you are distracted by a great outdoor environment, you’re less aware of just how hard you are working, how far you’ve run or how tired you are. You will be surprised at how quickly your workout flies by.