Nov 15 2009
Keeping Fit: Life on a Treadmill
Well, life does seem a bit like being on a treadmill at times, with you going at it full tilt but not really getting anywhere fast. This is one of the really unfortunate curses of a modern lifestyle in that we have so much to enrich our lives but we’re so busy working to get them that we don’t have the time to enjoy them.
One of the great similes that relates to the world of fitness and exercise then is exercising on a real treadmill instead of getting outside in the fresh air and pounding the pavement! I’m not saying don’t make full use of fitness equipment treadmills as every piece of apparatus has its place in the physical workout strategy. But don’t discount the benefits that can be gained from getting out into the fresh air and walking or running as nature intended.
There are several benefits to running (or walking) outside in the open air that you can’t get from using such apparatus in a gym.
The first and most important is that fresh air itself. Ok, if you live in a city or built up area where the air quality is not so good, polluted by the exhaust fumes of far too many internal combustion engine powered vehicles and all manner of other man made pollutants, then maybe you could actually be doing yourself more harm than good by breathing in excessive amounts of carbon monoxide and carcinogenic toxins like benzene.
But if you live in a more open area such as a smaller town where there are lots of open spaces and fewer vehicles to pollute the air, then breathing in the fresh air is better for you than the air conditioned atmosphere of a gym. The wind in your face is exhilarating, and the feeling of freedom that can only come from being in the great outdoors is a powerful motivator to improve your health so that you can enjoy even more of it as often as possible.
It also has the effect of diverting your attention away from the stresses of modern life with its restrictions on your time and resources,which in itself is a great boost to health by removing some of the stress from your life. Every little thing that you can do to reduce stress and improve your quality of life counts towards a more enjoyable, healthy and long lived stay on this planet.
Getting out into the open and getting a little closer to nature is one positive step to spending less time on the treadmill of life and more time getting real again.