6 Best Accessories to Amplify Green Exercise Outdoors
Green exercise, not to be confused with the green box exercise for family emergencies - refers to physical activity done performed in the great outdoors - parks, beaches, forests, deserts, the back yard. Its not a popular term, but there are years old studies boasting green exercise benefits over working out indoors. The most notable advantages: increased mindfulness and connection with nature, both of which can aid performance by distracting you from fatigue. Green exercise may entice people uninterested in going to an indoors facility to workout, training at home, or training alone. Below are a few ideas to enhance your green exercise sessions.
Find the Best Natural Surroundings for You
Green exercise is considered as a type of nature therapy (ecotherapy). Just like any other therapy solution, its important to consider which solution best suits your needs. Don't stop at parks and beaches. Check out sports fields, lakes, and maybe vacant parking areas and streets. Research and compare nearby options' pros and cons for you:
People: how many are usually there when you'd be and doing what? What's the crime history and state of cleanliness?
Animals and insects: what's normally there and do you need to take any special precautions for related injuries (e.g., bug bites) and allergies?
Laws and policies: are there any related to physical activity? Do the open hours align with your preferred workout times?
For parks, are there monkey bars or anything similar where you can do pull-ups, dips, Inverted rows, and muscle-ups?
Yoga Mat
Do you plan to do any yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, or other ground-based exercise in a green environment, a padded surface can protect from bug bites, excessive dirt, and grip slippage. There's no reason you can't resolve your "nature deficit disorder" - basically the need to touch grass - and be comfortable during ground-based exercise. Yoga mats can cost from $20 to well over a hundred depending on the durability, grip, material, padding, and portability required.
Want something multi-purpose instead? Consider a picnic blanket or poncho.
Wear a Heavy Backpack
A heavy backpack is a free option to add difficulty to calisthenics while strength training. A hiking backpack, military rucksack, or basic bookbag can work. Just pay attention to comfort and blood flow around the shoulders. Warning: a heavy backpack can shift your center of gravity back, affecting your range of motion during some exercises.
Steel chains are another option for adding resistance, albeit more cumbersome and expensive per pound.
Weighted Vest
A weight vest can be an upgrade in comfort, weight capacity, and mobility during indoor and outdoor activity. Weighted vests, including plate carriers, are especially helpful gym accessories for military service members and first responders' tactical strength and conditioning training. It can be just as beneficial to use a properly fitted weighted vest for walking the dogs or aerobic exercise.
TRX Suspension Trainer
Okay. What is TRX suspension training? Its basically a pair of anchored, adjustable straps with handles anchored to a bar or door, allowing you to do a lot of exercises anywhere that you may only be able to do with gym equipment otherwise. Suspension training equipment is minimal and portable. For many, it could replace the need for other equipment - exercise balls, resistance bands, ab wheels, etc.
I've had success programming TRX suspension training for:
- Weight loss exercise
- Circuit training
- Bone and muscle strength training
- Orthopedic exercise (corrective exercise)
- General heart health
- Keeping people engaged with something different instead of traditional exercise machines and free weights
The TRX suspension trainer is the most popular example for suspension training equipment. However, there are two notably cheaper options:
- KEAFOLS suspension trainer setup
- Plain gymnastic rings
The suspension trainer simply needs to be comfortable, durable, and able to handle your weight.
Sport-Specific Equipment
the most of the green space access with sports and other group exercise. Come up with unique physical activity accessible to everyone in your social group.
- Hacky sack
- Kickball
- Frisbee
- Walking
Share the medicine of nature with others.
