Summer 2016 | Sea Island Life Magazine Spring/Summer 2016 | Page 20

GET FIT
Stand-up paddleboarding at Sea Island

a

BREATH OF FRESH AIR

REAP THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF TAKING YOUR WORKOUT INTO NATURE.

re you feeling the call of the
wild? It’s the perfect time of
year to bring fitness programs
outside. There’s even a bonus:
Outdoor exercise offers health perks that
eclipse standard indoor workouts.
“Working out out-of-doors is great for both
body and mind,” says John Rowley, certified
personal trainer and best-selling author of
“The Power of Positive Fitness.” “Besides
fresh air, you get a more challenging and
changing terrain. There is no downside.”
Several peer-reviewed studies have suggested that outdoor exercise lifts mood
through a combination of exposure to
sunlight and a decrease in the stress hormone cortisol. Advantages even extend to
increased energy levels, greater satisfaction
and enjoyment, and a stronger commitment
to working out.
“Exercising outdoors provides a multitude
of benefits,” offers Reed Flanagan, personal
trainer and yoga and Pilates instructor at
Sea Island. “One to two hours of sunlight
exposure is great for increased vitamin D
production; and soft ground and sand causes

BY DEBRA BOKUR
less stress on joints … while also providing
increased resistance. The ground’s uneven
and unstable surface increases balance and
mental activation for foot placement.”
Rowley says a brisk calorie-burning walk is
the perfect way for beginners to get started.
If you’re already exercising regularly, he
suggests adding gentle hills for a fantastic
midlevel exercise routine. Toss in steps and
steep hills, and even the fittest enthusiasts
are likely to huff and puff.
“Walking is a great way to kick-start a fitness routine or supplement your current
one,” agrees Grant Seese, Sea Island lead fitness trainer. “Walking will still burn calories,

even if it’s perceived as relatively easy.
Generally, a 30-minute walk