Why Outdoor Fitness Will Dominate in 2018

There's nothing better than getting some sunshine, fresh air and working out at the same time.

A workout session outdoors is convenient, cheaper and gives you a multitude of benefits. Outdoor fitness is going to take over in 2018, with the great outdoors now being favoured over traditional gyms and equipment.

Luke Ashcroft, sports scientist and outdoor fitness specialist with over 20 years of experience, says, "In an increasingly busy world, people are struggling to find time to go to the gym or fit in with someone else's schedule. With time spent outside shown to reduce stress, improve memory and increase attention, outdoor fitness will definitely take over this year.

"Outdoor exercise is also extremely flexible, you can do it in your backyard, the park or any open space with the same if not better results than the gym!" adds Luke.

Luke's top benefits for working up a sweat outdoors include:

Efficiency
One of the biggest advantages to working outdoors is that it can be done anywhere, anytime. No more driving across town in peak hour traffic, just walk around the corner to the park.

Effectiveness
Outdoor training has often been seen as second to big, fancy gyms with their state-of-the-art machines. However, often when you use machines, you isolate the working muscles and run the risk of switching off your postural muscles.
Outdoors, you use the entire body. The body then develops the strength to support itself, leading to a more balanced musculoskeletal system that decreases the risk of joint and muscle problems due to imbalances.
Many gyms are now trying to establish outdoor training areas within their facilities, so you pay a gym membership to go inside to do a workout that you could do outside for free!

Enjoyment
Spending time outside is one of the biggest mood boosters, particularly if you work in an office. Fresh air has actually been found to be more invigorating than the recycled kind, with studies showing that inside air is often more polluted than air outside.
The variety of outdoor workouts are limitless which can lead to increased exercise adherence, building your mood and your fitness level.

Economy
Outdoor exercise doesn't require a membership, equipment, travel or a lot of time, cutting down on the usual gym fees.
There are a multitude of ways you can actually use objects within the outdoor environment to enhance your workout, for free! Stairs, hills, benches, playgrounds, fences, trees, posts and walls all provide opportunities to enrich and vary your workout.