Increased energy levels, boosted mood, reduced stress, weight loss, and improved concentration. You might be reading this list right now and thinking, “Yeah, I already know all the benefits of Pilates, that’s why I do it every week!” (Which we love, please keep that up, and if you haven’t joined us for a class yet - be sure to check out all our options!) But today, this familiar list is referencing the benefits (just a few, there are so many more) of something else that may be a bit underappreciated and underutilized: getting in touch with nature.
According to the EPA, that breaks down to 87% of our time inside of buildings and 6% in cars. Leaving a whopping 7% of your entire life to be spent in the great outdoors - which, when you do the math - breaks down to about one-half of one day of each week spent outside. Yikes.
This is pretty mind-boggling news when you consider that, (other than Pilates) spending time outdoors is one of the easiest ways to improve your overall health and wellbeing - inside and out! This has been proven by science again and again in peer-reviewed studies around the globe.
The good news? Now that you are armed with this knowledge, you can make getting outdoors a priority! Check out these ideas to help you reduce your indoor average.
Drink Your Morning Coffee/Tea Outdoors
Especially when the weather is on your side, there is nothing more relaxing than taking a moment for yourself with your morning drink of choice to prepare for the day ahead. You might be surprised at all the nature-in-action you can witness from your patio, balcony, or front porch. Put yourself in the right headspace to make anything happen as you breathe in the fresh air and notice the animals, insects, and even foliage getting ready to take on their day too.
Go for a Morning Walk
Take it a step further! Put your drink in a thermos and hit the pavement. Even just a quick once around the block will get your blood pumping and in tune with nature.
Take Your Work From Home Outside
Working remote? As much Feng Shui as your home office, living room, or kitchen may have, taking your laptop to the backyard might be the key to upping your productivity and taking creative thinking to the next level.
Take Your Home Work Outside too!
Not working from home per-say but have some chores that need doing? Set up your workstation on your porch, balcony, wherever works for you. Make your shopping list, check your emails, put the button back on that pair of shorts, you know, all those things that just have to get done. We bet you’ll enjoy them a lot more surrounded by all that fresh air.
Plan an outdoor activity each week
Maybe incorporating the outdoors into your every day isn’t too enticing, or maybe it just doesn’t seem feasible. That’s okay! Instead (or in addition to!) make a plan to spend some time in nature. Whether it is finding a trail to hike, heading to the lake to relax with a good book, taking a walk through your favorite park, visiting a local farmer’s market (bonus points for buying local, organic veg!), or joining some friends for jazz in the park, making a point to spend some time outside will do wonders for your body and mind.
Science and experience have spoken. Time in nature is just about the simplest thing you can do for your mind, body, and spirit (Hmmm sounds familiar...maybe we need to consider some outdoor Pilates?). We challenge you to spend at least 15 minutes outdoors for the next week and make a mental note of how it makes you feel during and after.