ENVIRONMENT
Let’s go plogging!
BY SARAH MCMICHAEL
As the snow melts in the spring, you
can often spot leftover trash along our
roads, sidewalks, and trails.
How many times have you walked past
this trash while out for a walk, run, or
jog? Did you pick it up, or leave it on the
ground?
A new environmentally friendly
workout trend is encouraging you to stop
and pick up litter during your outdoor
exercises.
It’s called plogging, and it’s an amazing
way to keep our environment and our
bodies healthy at the same time.
What is plogging?
It may have a funny name, but the
concept of plogging is simple.
Eco-friendly folks head out for a jog,
and bring an empty garbage bag to pick
up trash along the way. During your jog,
you are prepared to pause, and pick up
litter as you see it.
All you need is:
• An empty bag (try using a reusable
bag!)
• Gloves (again, reusable is best)
• Running shoes
Did you know:
• Plogging can be done on your own
or as a group. Either way, you’ll be
surprised how quickly you can fill up
a bag of trash during a short jog!
• Plogging started as a fitness trend
in Sweden in 2016. It spread from
country to country, and now people
all over the world are taking up
plogging as a way to get their
workout in while taking care of our
environment.
• The movement of bending over to
pick things up works new muscle
groups in your body.
• For an even better workout, avid
ploggers can add in lunges or
squats. If you combine this with
the cardio exercise of a jog, you’re
looking at a great way to stay fit.
• Taking your workout outdoors has a
myriad of health benefits on its own!
• Nature has been proven to be
good for our minds and bodies.
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movement celebrates the positive
effect nature has on our health.
• Exercise in nature has a more
positive effective on blood pressure
and mood than exercise in a gym.
Contact with nature has also been
found to strengthen the immune
system, help mitigate disease, and
reduce stress levels.
• And don’t forget about the mental
benefits! Memory performance
and attention span also improve
20% after spending just an hour
interacting with nature.
• Plogging is about something bigger
than just getting a workout in. It’s
about doing your part to protect our
natural environment.
• Picking up trash is your way to turn
an everyday jog into an interactive
opportunity to give back to these
valuable ecosystems. Cleaning up
garbage also keeps it away from
our wildlife, preventing dangerous
repercussions for them.
• Make sure you document your
plogging efforts online with
#plogging!
Happy trails!
Look for more great articles and blogs
here: ontarioparks.com