Wellness Wednesday
Indoor or Outdoor?
Today we’re joining Wellness Wednesday, hosted by Natalie the Explorer, which takes place the first Wednesday of each month. The prompt for March is ‘Indoor or Outdoor Fitness?’
I confess to feeling a bit of a confusion in answering this question that seems so simple. My initial response is hollering out “Outdoors”, fist raised in the air in support of my favorite place to be. But yet, I truly don’t exercise outdoors all that much.
I love to putter in the garden, take hikes and be out in nature. But to exercise out when it’s (shudder) cold – or too hot – it’s not going to happen. I think I’ll save the cardio workouts for indoor facilities.
Besides, as I learned from my younger sister a year or two back, those gentle walks around the block, the hikes in nature where I stop frequently to bask in the glorious sights and scenery aren’t giving me the cardio work out I need. I argued that point with her when she first informed me that I needed a workout that gave me cardio benefits. But I’m on my feet all day at work, back and forth from the stockroom out to aisles, in constant motion. “I put on miles a day in the stores. I’m getting cardio,” I reiterated. “No, you’re not,” she argued back.
All it took was one 30 minute workout at a kickboxing facility. I had to concede that I’d lost that debate. I had to eat crow and admit that my little sister was right.
After I discovered that now in my (ahem) older years, I’m battling with blood pressure that switched from too low to now too high, I know that the cardio benefits are necessary for me. I am not a fan of strenuous exercise, but you’d be amazed what I will do to avoid taking medications. So, at least for this point of my life journey – indoors it is.
However…the question was about indoor or outdoor fitness. And, at least to my mind, fitness implies more than just physical health and wellbeing. To my thinking, fitness also includes the mind and soul components. And for those – a healthy and well balanced disposition and attitude, and a strong, personal spiritual practice – then outdoors is definitely my ‘drug of choice.’
Hmmm…so, 400 words later and I haven’t really answered the question. I guess my final answer would have to be:
It depends.
Trisha Faye 
Mar 14, 2019 @ 02:40:34
Hi Trisha I totally agree about fitness not just being physical. I love to run or walk outdoors and lately have been taking my workouts in the park. It is so lovely before the heat of the day and I have a park across from where I live. I’ve also discovered Yoga with Adriene through YouTube and enjoy a morning practice in the comfort of my home. So many ways to be fit in mind, body and soul. #wellnesswednesday
Mar 14, 2019 @ 02:53:49
Hi Trisha I also forgot to say thank you for linking up at #MLSTL. Have a great week x
Mar 14, 2019 @ 23:23:26
Yes, Sue, there are so many ways to incorporate fitness in our lives. And I’m finding that the more I interweave into my life, the more the three modalities – mind, body, soul – become connected.
Mar 14, 2019 @ 03:14:35
I think “it depends” is probably the right answer too Trisha. I love my outdoor walks and they give me time to be in the moment and to pray. I don’t take my phone and I just enjoy the fresh air and movement. On the other hand, the exercise class, or the time on the elliptical machine are probably more strenuous and better for me (and easier when it’s pouring with rain!) I think the secret is to “just do something!”
Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM 🙂
Mar 14, 2019 @ 23:21:57
I think its like life. It’s all in the balance and we need both sides for different reasons.
Mar 14, 2019 @ 05:55:34
Yep, it definitely ‘depends’ and I have faced the same challenges with health which have pushed me to get more aerobic exercise at the gym. I don’t think I will ever be a fast walker outdoors as I am too much of a sticky beak
Mar 14, 2019 @ 23:20:53
Me either. I think we miss so much when we power walk through life and some strolls are meant to be savored and enjoyed.
Mar 14, 2019 @ 14:19:12
Thank you, Trisha, for joining me on March Wellness Wednesday. I agree indoor or outdoor fitness depends on what activity we’re doing and the climate where we live, too. I do both. The next Wellness link up is on April 10. The optional prompt is Healthy Mind.
Mar 14, 2019 @ 23:19:49
I’ve got it on my calendar. Now to put my thinking cap on….
Mar 15, 2019 @ 11:41:51
I have found, Trisha, that “it depends” is almost always the correct answer to any question, certainly this one. For me, fitness is finding the right combination of dedicated workouts and working physical activity into my daily routine. I love walking, hiking, and (if the weather’s just right) running outdoors, but for my weight training, yoga, interval training, and most of my running I go indoors. I love that you pointed out that fitness is more than just physical exercise, and for mental and emotional fitness, nothing is better than outdoors. #MLSTL
Mar 16, 2019 @ 21:59:13
Thank you Christie! And yes, And with today being a beautiful pre-spring day of sunshine and 60 degrees, I just spent 20 minutes strolling the back yard, looking at the grass that’s just beginning to grow and look a bit straggly and came in refreshed and rejuvenated – my ‘fitness’ for the day!
Mar 31, 2019 @ 02:32:17
I am always so happy each spring when the weather gets good enough so that I can switch from indoor fitness activities to outdoor ones.
Mar 31, 2019 @ 13:07:54
Me too!