And I’m not talking Drake “Runnin’ through the 6 with my woes” [woadies] by the way.

Once the Easter long weekend passes and the weather starts to change (at least here in Toronto), we begin to feel differently and align with the changing of the seasons from winter to spring, in hope to feel the warm rays of the sunshine again and excitement for all the outdoorsy-ness that the summer brings.

Where the warmer weather temperatures don’t last more than 5 or 6 months (if even that!), and if you’re anything like me, you’ll have felt like a horse at the racing gate, waiting for the doors to fly open and go running free outside without a winter coat.

We’re happy when we have moments and memories of being outdoors and in nature. Even during the Toronto winters, when the weather has its milder days, some of us use that as time to take a quick walk outside to enjoy nature and get fresh air. Did you know that when done in the nature outdoors, the physical activity you’re doing is not only improving your health but surprisingly relieving some of your health woes?

Here are the top 6 health benefits of why you should take your booty and beauty outdoors:

1. Improved mental and psychological health.

Humans have evolved as a species but we were once living outdoors in nature as hunters and gatherers. Being surrounded in nature is healing and mentally restorative, as we have a positive focus and engagement on the external environment around us, which stimulates pleasant feelings in the brain.

2. Improves negative mood and self-esteem.

Ever have a bad day and step outside at lunch for a walk, only to go back feeling a bit better? Our attention on the external environment can reduce our psychological awareness so that the negative emotions of tension and anger may subside.

3. Reduces stress and blood pressure.

Physical activity outdoors can reduce our stress hormones (cortisol and adrenaline) and increase secretion of serotonin and dopamine, our happy, feel-good hormones. Our senses that are stimulated by the smell of fresh air, sight of vibrant colours, and hearing natural sounds can be calming to the nervous system.

4. Strengthens the immune system.

Taking a stroll or exercising in the grass, dirt, and soil (natural vegetation) promotes colonization of diverse gut bacteria, which builds a strong microbiome, the foundation of our immune system. We are also exposed to natural vitamin D, which (in the Canadian winter months) nearly all of us are deficient in but forget how crucial this vitamin is to our immune health, for regulation of cell growth and repair, metabolism, hormonal balance, bone health and calcium absorption.

5. Less perceived exertion during exercise, and increased muscle development.

Again, when exercising outdoors, our focus shifts to our surroundings and can alter our perceived exertion to be less than when we’re exercising indoors. When walking/running or doing high intensity interval training indoors, we may be focused on the challenge, time, speedometer, metrics, calorie counter, or whatever it is, and feel like we’re exerting more effort. Exercising outdoors can increase strength and develop less frequently used muscles due to the unevenness of terrain (than the repetitive motion our muscles use when walking/running/cycling indoors).

6. Improves mindfulness and awareness.

When we’re outdoors in nature and conscious of our surroundings, it can increase our ability to be present in the moment. We can use that awareness to visualize, mediate, or just slow down our mind and body from the daily stress of life. Nature does not rush, everything has its purpose and process on a natural course of time, which is a valuable lesson we can learn from being outdoors.

Outdoor movement doesn’t have to take up a lot of time or effort. It can be as simple as 10 minutes spent outdoors at lunch, and can be done in the city or rural area. Some healthy ways to get outdoors can include walking, running, hiking, biking, gardening, playing in the playground, and forest bathing. Look for local parks, ponds, lakes, and forest trails to discover.

What are some simple ways that you can get outdoors more and reap the benefits of sunshine, flowers, and trees?

Leave a comment below and let me know!

Gladwell, Valerie F. “The Great Outdoors: How a Green Exercise Environment Can Benefit All.” Extreme Physiology & Medicine, BioMed Central, 3 Jan. 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3710158/.

Calogiuri, Giovanna, and Lewis R. Elliott. “Why Do People Exercise in Natural Environments? Norwegian Adults’ Motives for Nature-, Gym-, and Sports-Based Exercise.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, MDPI, 4 Apr. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5409578/.

Thompson Coon, J. “Does Participating in Physical Activity in Outdoor Natural Environments Have a Greater Effect on Physical and Mental Wellbeing than Physical Activity Indoors? A Systematic Review.” ACS Publications, Environ. Sci. Technol., 3 Feb. 2011, pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es102947t.

Ramírez-Puebla, Shamayim T., et al. “Gut and Root Microbiota Commonalities.” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, American Society for Microbiology, Jan. 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3536091/.