Exercises of any type are highly beneficial to you, both on a physical and mental level. You simply need to find the exercises you like and that work the best for your body and fitness goals and you can start your healthier lifestyle. However, there has always been a debate on whether working out at the gym or outdoors is better for you. Both of these environments have their pros and cons, and it will be up to you to decide based on your preferences.
Exercising Indoors
Pro: Controlled Environment
Exercising inside means that you can control the environment to your liking. Whether you’re doing it at home or at the gym, there is a high probability that there is air conditioning which can make the temperature comfortable. Plus, whenever you want fresh air, you can simply open up the windows and doors. What is more, in case you have any allergies or other respiratory problems, you can be sure that those won’t activate in a controlled environment.
Pro: Access to Equipment and Facilities
Working out at the gym or at home has its perks because you can use all the equipment you need in order to achieve your goals. For example, when you want to bulk up and build strong muscles, you can easily rely on strongman style training equipment, which is available in most gyms. What is more, when you are exercising inside, you always have access to toilets and bathrooms. This is definitely an advantage, especially if you are working out before or after work, or you simply have to somewhere after training.
Con: Cost and Transportation
Joining a gym is not exactly cheap. Most gyms overprice their services which can add up to a lot of money on a yearly basis. Also, when you’re building a home gym, you still have to spend a fair share of money on equipment, proper flooring, and whatnot. What is more, if you are going to the gym that’s not exactly in your neighborhood, you might face the problem of transportation, which also makes you spend more money on a monthly basis.
Exercising Outdoors
Pro: Variety
What is great about exercising outside is the variety of things, exercises, and turfs you have at your disposal. You can jog, run, walk, ride a bike, go on a hike and many other things. Also, the environment around you will change constantly and this will keep you engaged, motivated, and entertained at the same time. Plus, all these things, people and objects you see won’t be a distraction – they will simply keep you present at the moment and make exercising much easier.
Pro: Mood Elevation
The fresh air, sun, and life going on around you will elevate your mood significantly. All of these will help your body produce dopamine, a compound responsible for positive mood and euphoria. And with this compound being released, you will feel refreshed, happy, less stressed, while your body will burn some calories and get the daily exercise.
Con: Weather
The biggest problem of working out outside is the weather. This factor is also often unpredictable and you never know if it’s going to start raining while you are running, for example. What is more, if you are used to exercising outside, during the colder weather or rainy days you might have to put off exercising for a couple of days or even months. But you can still stay in shape if you combine indoor exercising during those months. In addition to that, it can be dangerous to exercise outside if it’s too hot, and if there is mud or even ice outside, you are at risk of slipping and hurting yourself.
Exercising should be a part of your daily routine in order to stay healthy and in shape. Working out has both physical and mental benefits no matter if you do it in or outdoors. And if you are bothered by the cons of both environments, you can get the best of both worlds by combining the environments and spend time at the gym and outdoors.
Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash
