Outdoor Fitness: Sharing The Joy Of Working Out Outside

Reader mountain biking through forest

Bored of the gym? What if you traded in that row of treadmills for something a little greener? For many of us, the great outdoors is a preferred setting for getting fit.

Recent research has suggested there are enhanced health benefits of outdoor exercise over indoor exercise. When HuffPost Healthy Living ran a piece on the research's findings, we received passionate comments from readers who love to sweat under the sun.

Pauline Seville said that the switch to outdoor fitness helped her maintain a routine. “I moved my yoga mat and light weights onto my covered porch a couple of weeks ago. I have a beautiful view of my newly created zen woodland garden," she wrote. "It has led to me exercising every day, instead of avoiding it, or putting it off.”

Other readers delighted in the fresh air on the beach or the social benefit of meeting friends for a jog in the park. One commenter went as far to say outdoor workouts lifts his spirits "no matter what.”

But we wanted to see all this outdoor exercise in action, so we asked our community to submit their favorite outdoor fitness photo. We heard from adventurous readers who got in touch with their rugged sides through hikes in Arizona and cycling excursions in Italy. Some pictures highlight a beautiful view; others show some sunshine-induced smiles.

Check out the slideshow below. Tweet us your #outdoorfitness photo to Healthy Living on Twitter or send a photo via e-mail to [e-mail].

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• Outdoor Yoga in Sedona

  "Hot outdoor yoga in Sedona is such a great mind Body workout." <a href="http://@Ericalyneverest" target="_hplink">@Ericalyneverest</a>

• Outdoor Fitness in Sedona, AZ

  Leah Class, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeeAdrienne" target="_hplink">@LeeAdrienne</a>

• Countryside Fitness

  Kirsten Patrick , <a href="https://twitter.com/KirstyPatrick" target="_hplink">@KirstyPatrick</a>

• Farm Fitness

  Quite the view on a neighborhood stroll True Taylor,<a href="https://twitter.com/vegan_flump" target="_hplink"> @vegan_fump</a>

• Early Morning Runs

  On early-morning runs before work, I like to follow the path south along the Hudson River, since it's only a couple of blocks from my apartment. This spot is one of my favorite views. By the time I reach it, I'm hitting my stride and feeling a lot better than during those first few minutes when I force myself out of bed. The sun is always sparkling off the water and it feels for a few moments like I'm not in New York City. It's also a great spot for evening runs, because the sun sets right over the buildings in the background. Sarah Klein, Healthy Living associate editor <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-klein/" target="_hplink">Healthy Living associate editor </a>

• Cycling in Italy

  Dr. Lorri Nichols, <a href="https://twitter.com/drlorrinichols" target="_hplink">@drlorrinichols</a>

• Running on the beach

  "It's not about running. It's about FREEDOM" - <a href="https://twitter.com/angeljerlinsays" target="_hplink">@angeljerlinsays</a>

• Running the Open Path

  Taryn Crow loves the fresh air and openess on her running path <a href="https://twitter.com/TCHealthCoach" target="_hplink"> ‏@TCHealthCoach</a>

• Goleta Jog

  "After, put my toes in the water. Fulfilling, rewarding, grounding." - Natalie Thomas, <a href="https://twitter.com/nlt25" target="_hplink"> ‏@nlt25</a>

• Mountain Biking in Forest

  "My ‪#outdoorfitness‬ is finding a forest to do some mountain biking." - <a href="https://twitter.com/ShawnaThibodeau" target="_hplink">@ShawnaThibodeau</a>

• Weekend Beach Workout

  Robin Anamalay ‏likes to get fit on the beach - <a href="https://twitter.com/frozen_rob" target="_hplink">- @frozen_rob</a>

• Hiking With the Puppies

  Susan B loves hiking outdoors with her pets. <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueLeath" target="_hplink">@BlueLeath</a>

• A View That Beats the Gym

  " I will take this view over a treadmill any day," - Nichole Mayer ‏ <a href="https://twitter.com/nicholemayer" target="_hplink">@nicholemayer </a>

• Yoga in Kauai

  Bethni Hemphill <a href="https://twitter.com/bethnihemphill" target="_hplink">‏@bethnihemphill</a>

• Yoga in Times Square

  While this picture is from a special yoga event for Summer Solstice in New York City's Times Square, I love to do yoga under the sun at an outdoor class in the park anytime. It's transcending! - <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gina-ryder/" target="_hplink">Gina Ryder</a>, Associate Community Editor

• Night Walk Along Missouri River

  Stephanie Green enjoys the pedestrian bridge over the Missouri river -<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/search/%40ssgreen2087" target="_hplink">@ssgreen2087</a>

• Being Active at National Mall

  Softball on the National Mall at sunset with perfect 75 degree weather. - Natalie Wasserman, <a href="http://twitter.com/natwass" target="_hplink">http://twitter.com/natwass</a>

• Waterfall Workout

  Jessie Debbold, <a href="twitter.com/Jdebbold" target="_hplink">@JDebbold </a>

• Ultimate Stair Workout

  <a href="http://twitter.com/ImDesi " target="_hplink">@ImDesi </a>

• Planks On the Beach

  "It'd be wrong NOT to workout outdoors on an island" - <a href="http://@pumpsandiron" target="_hplink">@pumpsandiron</a>

• Peaks of Otter near Bedord, VA.

  It's an hour + climb straight up to the top of Sharp Top Mountain. It was invigorating! - Cindy

• Zipline

  From Susanna in Louisville

• Zen Yoga Garden

  "I moved my yoga mat and light weights onto my covered porch a couple of weeks ago. I have a beautiful view of my newly created zen woodland garden." - Pauline

• Family Hike

  Early A.M. family hiking in ‪#Sedona‬ this past week! - <a href="http://@leeverest" target="_hplink">@leeverest</a>

• Post Workout

  After finishing brick workout <a href="http://@PattiMae24" target="_hplink">@PattiMae24</a>

• Nothing Beats a Hike

  <a href="http://‬@shaneharvey19" target="_hplink">‬@shaneharvey19</a> and ‏<a href="http://@Ericalyneverest" target="_hplink">@Ericalyneverest</a>

• Cycling Race

  "I competed in my first ‪#Granfondo‬ cycling race in Penticton (92 km)." - ‏<a href="http://@tessfitnessblog" target="_hplink">@tessfitnessblog</a>

• Paddleboarding

  <a href="http://@JDebbold" target="_hplink">@JDebbold</a>

• Skateboarding

  <a href="http://@Ssippi" target="_hplink">@Ssippi</a>

• Biking Through a Garden

  Bike Trip Sunday along the Fox River in Fabyan Villa Japanese Gardens - Mary Beth Fletcher, Geneva, IL

• Hiking in Africa

  Summit of Kilimanjaro <a href="http://@ontheroxyoga" target="_hplink">@ontheroxyoga</a>

• Handstand in a Meadow

  Doesn't get much cooler than <a href="http://@ontheroxyoga" target="_hplink">@ontheroxyoga</a>

• Rock Climbing

  Congratulations to Healthy Living community member Holly Solberg who rock climbed for the first time outdoors over her summer weekend.

• Outdoor Fitness With a Friend

  A Saturday morning ritual in AZ <a href="http://@amandamary8" target="_hplink">@amandamary8</a>

• Yoga in LA

  Yoga in the back garden in LA @DeatonSusan and Madeleine - ‏<a href="http://@bethnihemphill" target="_hplink">@bethnihemphill</a>

• On a 9 mile run - <a href="http://@TiaraBeth" target="_hplink">@TiaraBeth</a>

• Gorgeous in Co on a 7 mile run <a href="http://twitter.com/JAIMEALTMAN" target="_hplink">@JAIMEALTMAN </a>

• <a href="http://@MegPinkGiggles" target="_hplink">@MegPinkGiggles</a>

• This is photo from a six week warrior training at Belfast, Maine waterfront Bootcamp. Getting our plyo jumps on! - Val

• Beth Meads

• 96-year old Beatrice who does not let the Florida heat keep her off course. <a href="https://twitter.com/ForestTrace" target="_hplink">@ForestTrace </a>

• Spelunking in Alabama with friends is great for a workout and for the soul. You have to much fun to even look at it as a workout! - Chassidy Bonner

• "Just another day of handstands on the beach," Sarah Garvin

• I love getting in any kind of workout OUTSIDE of the gym. - Jodi Lederer

• I love getting in any kind of workout OUTSIDE of the gym. - Jodi Lederer

• I love getting in any kind of workout OUTSIDE of the gym. - Jodi Lederer

• I love getting in any kind of workout OUTSIDE of the gym. - Jodi Lederer

• Training for NWM 26.2 by running the first 10 miles of the route. <a href="twitter.com/mr_guigayoma " target="_hplink">@mr_guigayoma </a>

• A 5K with weekly meetup group in Philadelphia <a href="Twitter.com/cityfitgirls" target="_hplink">@CityFitGirls </a>

• <a href="http://@EAMFitXpress" target="_hplink">@EAMFitXpress</a>

• <a href="http://@HealthyBodySkin" target="_hplink">@HealthyBodySkin</a>

From our partners

• Cancer: An American History (INFOGRAPHIC) - Everyday Health
• 39 Deliciously Unexpected Healthy Avocado Recipes - Greatist
• 8 Great Running Apps To Help You Train For Your Next Race - Shape Magazine

Comments

[hawaiianstile]

07:13 PM on 07/02/2012

i do all my working out outside. jogging the beach with my weighted vest is perfect, the course changes depending on the moon, wind, and tides. sometimes its easier and sometimes its damn hard with soft sand to trudge through and waves crashing your legs. going spear diving is a good workout. aside from the physical output it requires, you also have to maintain a calm mind, and holding your breath to dive down into underwater caves in search of fish is great for the lungs. not to mention you get a fresh healthy meal to eat when you are done. hiking up in the mountains is another great one, works your stamina and every muscle in your body with all the hills and climbing. not to mention breathing forest air is very beneficial for the body. related to this is simply climbing trees, especially tree tag (which i used to LOVE to play as a kid). just working a big garden is a great work out, diggin the earth, moving boulders, pulling weeds, chopping overgrown ares, and it also provides you with the freshest healthiest food you are likely to find. there is no substitute for the health benefits one gets just from living an active outdoor lifestyle, especially when focused workouts are incorporated into it.

[EricaDHouse]

09:44 AM on 07/02/2012

I LOVE working out outdoors but now that the head index is usually around 100 I'm forced to stay in most days :(

http://www.EricaDHouse.com

[mteston1]

02:51 PM on 07/02/2012

Dang that "head" index! All kidding aside, the "heat" and "humidity" has been brutal lately. the up side is that once the "H & H" breaks it will make the 80s and 70s feel like a stroll in the park.