The original all-terrain vehicle was the human body. Our cave dwelling ancestors might have a leg up when it comes to exercise routines. How can we train our bodies to wrestle sabertooth tigers or mastodons? Early man might not have left their workouts painted on cave walls, but they did leave us one big hint. If you want the best workout possible, go outside.
Polished stainless steel and touch screens look sleek, but they have nothing to do with fitness. As the flowers begin to bloom, its time to step outside and enjoy a workout in the fresh air. Spring is a perfect time to escape from the gym so you never have to sit on a sweaty machine again. Exercising outdoors is challenging, saves time, and studies are finding that it can actually make you feel better.
Go for a Run
Why would running outside be any different that running on a treadmill? The drawback of treadmills and ellipticals is that you run in place. Whether its the turning belt of a treadmill or the spinning gears of an elliptical, the machine is doing some of the work for you. When you run outside, you provide the movement. Both activities may look similar, but running outside will increase your work load from 2 percent to 10 percent through air resistance. As you transition from a walk to a run the wind resistance increases. So as you improve, running naturally becomes more difficult.
Stop Reading
I always tell clients, if you can read a book while exercising, you are not doing it properly. Workouts are very similar to sex. Your performance depends on your level of involvement. When you go for a jog, your brain does not zone out like it does at the gym. We must be constantly aware of our changing environment. By actively engaging our surroundings, we enhance our proprioceptive capabilities.
