Join the nature gym: love the planet, get healthy, and save money
October 5, 2008 by Jennifer
Everyone needs exercise but gym memberships aren’t the best way to get this exercise. According to Medical News Today, U.S. families and individuals loose over 12 billion annually on unused gym memberships, with about 80% of folks who purchase a membership ignoring them. Um, I don’t care to hear any more arguments about the cost of organic food after hearing this. In the UK even more gym memberships go unused yearly.
Also, gyms don’t favor the earth. We build these massive structures, that take up land, and use resources, and for what? So people can avoid them? A better solution is to commit yourself and your family to the great outdoors. Make nature your gym.
Some benefits of joining the nature gym include…
An appreciation for nature: If your kids and you aren’t out there, reaping the benefits, how will you learn to love nature?
It’s free!: Gym memberships can cost $500-600+ yearly if you enroll the whole family. You can buy four bikes, four pairs of walking shoes, or a really nice Frisbee or two for far less. The best part is you don’t really have to buy anything to get outside. Sure a rain coat is nice in the fall, but there’s no ongoing membership or key card to lose.
Less fuel use: To get to the nature gym, all you do is open your front door. Sometimes it’s fun to drive somewhere special for a hike, but honestly, you can walk in your neighborhood. Driving to and from the gym saves time and gas. Bonus, when it snows, you can always get outside, while a gym may be closed and or risky to drive to.
You won’t feel self-conscious: If you’re out of shape, but committed to getting into shape, walking a mile outside in your jeans and a full jacket is MUCH better than squeezing into a gym outfit (yikes) for a treadmill walk.
It’s not boring: Being outside in the fresh air is not only healthier than being stuck in a stale air gym, but it’s more exciting. My son and I go for a long walk each day. The other day we saw frogs, birds, watched a slug for 15 minutes, discussed the finer points of architecture we saw along the way, and had a great time. So much better than staring at a gym wall as you work out. Nature is always changing and each season of your nature gym membership will show you something new.
It’s a good workout: Believe it or not, exercising in the great outdoors can be more of a challenge than exercising at the gym. The natural landscape provides a challenging workout. Hills are great for your legs, and if you can walk on a beach, the sand provides a great workout. Biking, inline skating, and jogging is more of a challenge than gym equipment because it’s always different, it makes you think. The outdoors is enjoyable too, so you may be more likely to stick with it, which by the way, is the only way exercise work.
It smells better: Let’s see, sweaty people, rubber mats, and plastic sticky equipment or cedar trees, fresh grass and streams – wow hard choice.
In a few months, it’ll be time to write your New Year’s resolutions. This year consider adding “Join nature gym” instead of “Join sweaty, costly, smelly, gym I will avoid” to your resolutions. You’ll like it much better. Plus think of all the organic apples and peppers that extra $500 a year will buy!
Don’t let the weather or your kids stop you either. Read:
Will you consider joining the nature gym this year?
I’ve never paid for a gym membership. I love walking outside, but the hot weather isn’t always good for it. I skip most of July-Sept, so I’m just now able to get back outside walking!
The only exercise stuff I’d pay for is yoga class. And since I used to get it for free at work, I haven’t yet brought myself to pay for it. : )