Benefits of Exercise Outdoors

The Telegraph recently invited me to contribute to a really interesting article on exercising outdoors to reduce cognitive decline. And how just short workouts can make a BIG difference.

I was more than happy to be interviewed and also provide 3x 5min workouts: strength, cardio and mobility.

You’ll need to go check out the article online to read in detail, but a couple of headlines worth sharing:

1) A new study led by researchers at the John Hopkins Bloomberg school of public health found that engaging in as little as 35 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week compared to 0 minutes per week, was associated with a 41% lower risk of developing dementia risk in older adults. (study conducted on 90,000 UK adults)

2) A Canadian study (albeit a small test group) found there was greater improvement in cognitive ability after outdoor exertion than the equivalent exercise undertaken indoors with even short bouts of exercise making an impact.

We need lots more research but I think we’re all clear that no workout is too short to benefit you?!

And you know how much of a fan I am of outdoor workouts even without the data.

The fresh air, the Vitamin D, the increased energy, higher endorphins.. the list goes on.

Which is why you’ll see all over my Instagram page, straight forward, achievable 10 minutes workouts, in my garden, designed to be repeated to create longer workouts if you have the time and ability. But if 10 minutes is all you can manage today – they still pack a punch and all these minutes add up across the weeks, months, years.

Will you take your workout outdoors?

👉 Read the full article here or via the PDF below.

Five-minute outdoor workouts to boost your brain health.pdf

Download PDF • 4.11MB