The Best of Both Worlds – Taking Your Exercise Indoors and Out

Do you prefer to get your exercise indoors or out? If you have a preference, you are not alone. Like so many other areas of life, people tend to pick sides when it comes to this sort of thing. There really is no need to. Both indoor and outdoor exercise have their pluses. Combine them and you get the best of both worlds.

For people who like to get out and about, the opportunities are just about endless. Everything from running to mountain climbing and yoga in the park are in play. Indoor exercise may be somewhat more limited based on the amount of space and the equipment you have available. But there are still enough choices to satisfy just about everyone.

• Benefits of Indoor Exercise

Indoor exercise has come a long way over the last 40 or 50 years. With gyms expanding to become complete health clubs, you can find just about anything you are looking for. And of course, there are more specialized experiences as well. You can sign up for a spinning class at Salt Lake City’s Mcycle, for example. They don’t do anything else at the studio.

Here are some of the benefits of indoor exercise:

• Climate Control – Being out of the weather and in a climate-controlled atmosphere means taking a spinning class or running on a treadmill without having to worry about rain, snow, or ice. You do not have to worry about overheating in the hot sun.

• Traffic – For people who live in urban areas, indoor exercise offers the opportunity to work out without having to worry about traffic.

• Safety – There are those who can only exercise first thing in the morning or in the evenings. They might not feel safe being out and about at those times. Exercising indoors offers the opportunity to get a good workout and still feel safe.

Indoor exercise even offers a measure of privacy that some people really appreciate. This means exercising at home rather than in a group setting. Still, the opportunity for privacy is there.

• Benefits of Outdoor Exercise

Indoor workouts and classes do have their upsides. But so too does taking your exercise outside. For some people, getting outside is the only way to go. From walking to running and riding your bike, there is a lot to be said for getting out of the house or the gym.

Here are some of the benefits of outdoor exercise:

• Sunlight – Science has proven that our bodies need sunlight to function properly. Regular exposure to sunlight encourages the body to synthesize vitamin D. Moreover, our bodies are far better off synthesizing it than getting it from a supplement.

• Fresh Air – Indoor air can become stale over time. During winter and summer peaks, indoor air is also artificially dried by mechanical heating and cooling. This is not necessarily a good thing for some people with respiratory difficulties. Being outside represents an opportunity to get all the fresh air you can breathe in.

• Reduced Stress – Studies suggest that being outdoors can reduce stress and help relax you. If those studies are correct, a less stressed and more relaxed you would gain even more benefit from exercise.

Taking your exercise outdoors also gives you more space to work with. More freedom of movement opens the door to more opportunities including tennis, golf, cross country skiing, and so forth.

Neither indoor nor outdoor exercise is necessarily a better option. Combine the two and you will have more opportunities to get in a workout. Ultimately, this is the best way to go.