Three Ways To Increase Exercising In Nature

Tired of the gym? Want to get outside and enjoy the fresh air, get some Vitamin D, and reap the mental health benefits of engaging in nature?  There are a lot of fun activities you can do outside.  Sometimes we don’t take advantage of them because we don’t have someone to join us on a hike in the woods or we don’t know how to stand up paddleboard.  Here are three resources that you may want to look into to expand your exercise options.
 
Your Local Recreation Departments
When was the last time you checked your local recreation department’s activity menu?  Most towns have one that you can look at online or in a catalog that they usually publish seasonally.  Often the classes are reasonably priced or better yet, free.  Yoga, Zumba, Tennis Lessons, Sailing courses-you might be surprised what they offer.  Don’t see one you are looking for?  Maybe you want to contact them and offer to start a women’s walking group or a community garden club-something you would enjoy doing with others. 
 
MeetUp.com
MeetUp is a website that you can join for free.  It sounds like a dating site, but it’s not.  “Meetup is the world's largest network of local groups. Meetup makes it easy for anyone to organize a local group or find one of the thousands already meeting up face-to-face. More than 9,000 groups get together in local communities each day, each one with the goal of improving themselves or their communities.”  They offer an immense amount of group activities, including all kinds of exercise groups-hiking, biking, dog walking, the list is endless and includes options for different stamina levels.  In my area they have 2227 offerings today! 
 
REI
If you are fortunate enough to have an REI store in your area, check it out. Visit your local store where they will have a display of upcoming activities or check it out online: www.rei.com/learn .  Enter your zip code and the mile radius you are willing to travel and you will find a list of outdoor activities and education sessions, such as learning about camping equipment.  Many are free or a nominal fee.  Members get a discount.  It is worth the $20 lifelong membership fee.  You will easily recoup the investment with the benefits.
 
If you have a friend or a family, to bring along to these events, great!  Often, however, it can be difficult to match our schedules up with our loved ones.  So don’t be shy, take advantage of these opportunities to get outside, get some exercise, and maybe even meet some new friends.
 

Do you have some other ideas to share?  Comments always welcome!
#Exercise #Nature #VitaminN #Health #Wellness