Several years ago, I got certified in Outdoor Fitness through Tina Vindum’s program. Her background as an Elite Athlete led her to promoting Outdoor Fitness. My entire site is based on this concept, but I haven’t exactly explained fully what Outdoor Fitness is. This post is based on her work. It’s possible you may have not heard of her- so I think this information is very important to share!
Total Body Mind Conditioning
Outdoor Fitness is a holistic approach to fitness that honors the connection between the mind, body, emotion and the environment. This is something that just cannot be achieved in a gym.
This is a different way to approach total body-mind conditioning; It combines the excitement of being outdoors in any environment and terrain with traditional style fitness exercises and innovative techniques. You get the positive stimuli from exercising outdoors and it promotes a greater appreciation for nature.
Outdoor Fitness is an accessible workout that has appeal to a broad population- including men, women, kids, and athletes. It is an efficient way to train and brings people a dramatically improved level of fitness, health and well-being. With outdoor fitness, you can take advantage of any type of natural environment.
The outdoors really is the foremost gym in the world. You can get into the best shape of your life in any outdoor setting. With some scouting and creativity, you can create your own fitness facility. In most communities you will find unique topography parks, playgrounds, hills, rock formations, trails, tracks, stairs, beaches and streams.
Key Components of Outdoor Fitness Include:
No Gym Membership Required: You use the always available outdoor environment at no cost. You can incorporate a variety of terrain and places for a stimulating and challenging workout.
Complete Training: A fitness program that includes cardiovascular, flexibility, balance, mental focus, emotional resilience, muscular strength and endurance.
Sensory Awareness: Spending more time in the outdoors enhance your senses: sight, smell, sound, and even taste will improve
Mindfulness: With outdoor fitness, you can integrate breathing techniques to become more centered, relaxed and focused.
Environmental Integration: You can learn how to interact with the environment to prevent injuries and enhance your training through relying on natural forces of gravity. I think it’s much easier to get into a “flow” state in the outdoors vs. a gym.
Emotional Power: Can help you to recognize emotional triggers and help to alleviate them. Tina shares stories in her program where clients even stopped going to therapy! You’ll gain confidence and become inspired by your new found abilities.
Through getting fit outdoors, you will be more inspired than ever. Nature is a powerful contributor to personal health and wellness. I am confident you will feel a renewed sense of well being and will be more likely to stay with a long term fitness routine.
To conclude, I want to leave you with the Benefits of Outdoor Fitness Training (Based on Tina Vindum’s Research)
- Positive effect on body composition
- Positive effect on your self image
- Increase in energy
- Enhances motivation
- Decreases stress and anxiety
- Decreases instances of depression
- Enhances greater emotional power and control
- Improve mental acuity
- Helps to prevent cardiovascular disease and other chronic illness
- Increases bone density
- Decreases cholesterol levels and incidence of Type II Diabetes
- Promotes social connection
- Improves sense of well being
- Enhances sensory awareness
- Enhances sense of being connected to the natural world
With all these benefits, it is no wonder that those who exercise outdoors are typically happier and healthier people. The outcomes are just too great to ignore. A holistic approach to fitness that benefits your mind, body, and soul. Next time you’re getting ready to go to the gym, I encourage you to head outdoors instead!
