04/19/2011
General Exercise
Whether you’re a fan of the gym, a master Wii Fit player or more of a nature lover, indoor and outdoor workouts can offer pros and cons for your routine. Follow these tips from Life Fitness to find balance and create a more interesting workout.

INDOOR vs. OUTDOOR TRAINING

Whether you’re a fan of the gym, a master Wii Fit player or more of a nature lover, indoor and outdoor workouts can offer pros and cons for your routine. Follow these tips from Life Fitness to find balance and create a more interesting workout.

INDOOR

Control your atmosphere. Most exercisers opt for indoor training during inclement weather, meaning searing heat, humidity, wind chill and freezing snow will not foil workout goals. Depending on your geographic location, running, biking and weight training can be accomplished more effectively indoors during extreme weather conditions.

Decrease your injury risk. Accidents happen everywhere, but the risk of injury is lessened on standardized gym equipment. Cross-trainers provide cushioning that nature trails cannot. When gallivanting along on outdoor terrain, wearing the wrong shoes or turning the wrong direction could result in serious muscle injuries. Gyms also offer personal trainers who can explain proper technique and form for using cardio and weight-training machines.

 

OUTDOOR

Find motivation in nature. Good old-fashioned sunshine can do wonders for a workout. Exercises like swimming, running, soccer, basketball, yoga, tennis, golf and cycling can all be performed outdoors. If heat is an issue, try an early-morning workout. You may find that working out while the sun rises can be tranquil for the mind and body.

Practice yoga at a nearby beach, jog along a favorite trail, or do Pilates and play Frisbee at a local park. Take advantage of the wide-open space and quiet moments – the sounds of nature can be healing, and offer a peace that is often missed with the indoor workout experience.

Gain natural vitamins. With so much time spent inside, it’s easy to forget the positive energizing effects of the great outdoors. Being active outdoors can offer additional health benefits for those with a Vitaimin D deficiency by providing a healthy dose of the important vitamin and fresh air. And when exercising in the sun, always remember to wear sunscreen.

 

Fit Tips are provided by Life Fitness, the leader in designing and manufacturing high-quality exercise equipment for fitness facilities and homes worldwide. For more information on Fit Tips and other fitness advice and expertise visit www.lifefitness.com or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/lifefitness or join our Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/lifefitness.

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