As spring unfolds and the mercury rises, many athletes will emerge from the gym and take training sessions to the great outdoors.
But it’s not just about swapping the ceiling for the sky. Adapting the weights room routine to the fresh air setting is great for developing skills, and can profoundly impact on performance and overall wellbeing. Here’s how:
Embracing nature's gym
With warmer temperatures and longer daylight hours, elite athletes can use parks, open spaces and running tracks as their new training grounds. With your peers around and more room to move, you can breathe new life into your regime and push performance to new levels.
Sport integration
Getting out and about, you can integrate other pursuits into your schedules. Cycling, tennis, football or volleyball are some of the activities that can build on strength and endurance development, bringing valuable cross-training and recovery.
Feel the sunshine
Increased sunlight exposure facilitates the body's production of vitamin D, essential for bone health, immune function, and muscle strength. Elite athletes may venture beyond the four walls to optimise their vitamin D levels, boosting the feel-good factor.
Adaptation to real conditions
The gym is great, but it’s a very controlled environment which can get a little stale. Getting outside throws new factors into the mix, introducing athletes to adjustments in intensity, hydration strategies and gear selection. These new dynamics push people to adapt, improving versatility, resilience, and sports knowledge.
Mind and body connection
Engaging with nature during exercise can foster a deeper connection between mind and body. The serenity of natural surroundings, coupled with the physical demands of outdoor activities, promotes mental clarity and stress reduction, complementing the pursuit of excellence.
How does your regime change and what are the benefits?
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