Stay keen with an outdoors exercise session
Taking on the elements in an outdoor fitness class can boost your mood and keep you motivated to exercise for longer, according to statistics released this week by sport and leisure management charity Fusion Lifestyle.
In the survey, 43% of those questioned said the fresh air helped improve their mood and feelings of wellbeing. A third believed the combination of indoor and outdoor classes kept them more interested and motivated to exercise.
Some 96% of participants said they would consider exercising alfresco, despite the fact that only one in five had actually attended a class so far. The most popular classes to try were outdoor bootcamps and fitness training, followed by circuits, boxercise and Zumba.
Lee Arris, Fitness Instructor at Hillingdon Sports & Leisure Complex says, 'The outdoors provides a change of scenery, it can add interest to your workout and help keep you motivated. There are so many activities you can get involved with outside, there can be no excuse for getting bored.'
Fresh air, vitamin D and changing scenery as opposed to the walls of a gym are all factors that help make outside exercise an effective mood booster.
Fusion Lifestyle runs more than 600 classes as part of its Open Air Active program at leisure centres across Greater London and the South East. They include tennis, cycling and running sessions, as well as more unusual classes like Hulacise, Nordic walking and Bokwa.
Fusion Lifestyle is offering a free class pass for everyone, so that you can try out one of the Open Air Active sessions for yourself. Just quote ‘OAA3’ when you phone your local centre to book a place. Find out about Open Air Active classes in your local area at www.fusion-lifestyle.com
