Doesn’t it feel great to get outside on a cool, crisp day and go for a walk? Of course the answer is yes – but recent research shows that outdoor physical activity is even better for you than exercising indoors.
But the truth is many people just don’t like being active. Only about 13 percent of Canadian women older than 59 and less than nine percent of older American adults get at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week, the recommended amount.
The key to staying active seems to be finding an activity you enjoy. Researchers at the University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke in Quebec believe outdoor activities are the answer.
Through their studies, researchers found on average, the women who exercised outdoors had a greater sense of tranquility after working out and attended more sessions. During the study, Outdoor exercisers joined in 97 percent of the 36 sessions, while the indoor group attended 91 percent of sessions.
The outdoor exercisers also showed decreased depressive symptoms and increased activity levels outside of the workout sessions, compared with the women who exercised indoors and whose general activity level didn’t change. Exercising outdoors benefitted more than just the participants’ bodies—it also helped positively boost their emotions. 
