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