Why I work-out outside

Why I work-out outside

Why focus on working-out outside instead of in a gym where specially designed work-out machines are held ready to use?

Well for me there are different reasons. Being out in nature has a general positive impact on my well-being. Being surrounded by the natural elements for a while has a cleansing effect on me and lets me release a lot of my every-day stress automatically without having to specifically do anything about it. My mind becomes more clear and focused.

Really it helps me to become more rooted, my breathing wants to sink into my belly and my heart-space opens. I believe this happens because we as human beings are a part of this natural world around us. Becoming one with nature is becoming one with ourselves.

So this way I believe nature nourishes us, balances our emotions, takes the tension off our bodies, allows our minds to become more receptive and spiritually strengthens us, and all this just by spending time outside. No gym can do that and no machine can.
Now we begin to work out. Working-out in nature I would see as an active meditation. We are using our bodies to raise energy while our thoughts can become less and less until our focus really rests on our breathing. And all this time we are connecting to our roots and to the elements. We are generating connection to never ending resources and inner balance. We step out of every-day man-made activity and gain strength that we can take back with us into our lives. Of course working out indoors will give us a lot and will make us feel good and feed us with endorphines as well, but for me this natural connecting and rooting aspect is missing. This elemental power is missing.

Also outside, the possible diversity of work-out situations is immense, not only our mood and condition will vary every time we train, it will also be the ground we move on, the weather conditions, temperature, wind speed, whatever we use as weights, whatever tree we climb or balance across. All these things will change constantly. This makes our bodies strong and extremely adaptable, meaning we become a lot less prone to everyday injuries and accidents.

Get outside! Move to your ROOTS! wild-horse 04/2014