Fitness alfresco: the surprising benefits of exercising outside
Posted by Claire Hewitt, on April 16, 2025. Tags: Fitness, Fuller cup, fuller cups, Health benefits, Menopause, Wellbeing
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s)
To celebrate the arrival of our new Aerocool Emerald this spring, we’re all about outdoor exercise right now. You may have spent months sweating it out in the gym or Pilates studio, but now spring is here, it’s time to take it outside. With warmer weather and longer days, why not swap the treadmill for a run club meet-up, move your yoga mat into the garden, or take your dumbbells to the local park?
Exercising outdoors isn’t just about making the most of fresh air and nice weather after being couped up all winter – a wealth of research shows that taking your workout outside helps boost your physical and mental health. Here are just a few reasons why it’s so good for you, from improved sleep to easing the symptoms of menopause.
Exercising outdoors boosts your brain
Great news for anyone suffering from brain fog or overwhelm –
while exercise itself has been known to boost cognitive function and mood, when you do it in a natural environment, such as a park or woodland, the impact is even greater.
A study (published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology) asked participants to walk 500m – once on a treadmill facing a blank wall, and again outside along a tree-lined track – while wearing a device to measure brain activity. When walking outdoors among the trees, participants registered increased connectivity between brain regions involved in reasoning and attention. Recorded brainwaves also indicated they were more relaxed.
Outdoor exercise makes you happier
The wellbeing benefits of exposure to nature – be it green space or blue space (lakes, rivers, the sea) – are compelling. Numerous studies have concluded that spending time in nature may help reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Combine that with feel-good, endorphin-boosting exercise and you have a recipe for happiness.
Whatever al fresco exercise you choose to do, switch your attention away from counting reps or how exhausted you feel, to what you can see and hear around you. Birdsong is a proven mood-booster, and taking the time to notice seasonal changes in your garden or local park is an exercise in mindfulness.
Early morning outdoor exercise boosts energy
Get outside as soon as possible and do your stretches in the garden, go for a run or take a brisk walk. Early morning exposure to daylight helps us feel alert and ready for the day ahead. This is because morning light contains more infrared which helps synchronise our body clock (aka our circadian rhythm) by supressing the sleep hormone melatonin, and boosts the activity of mitochondria, the cell-based particles responsible for producing and storing energy.
Al fresco workouts aid better sleep
Sleep is one of the key pillars of good health, both physically and mentally – but when you’re struggling to get some quality shut-eye life can feel like a real challenge. Numerous factors can result in poor sleep – including stress, perimenopause and diet – but exercising outside can help steer your body towards better quality slumber.
One study (published in the journal PLoS One) found that women who spent less time outside, had less sleep overall. But what time you’re outside matters – according to the researchers, exercising outdoors in the morning resulted in better sleep for the study participants, compared to those who exercised outside in the afternoons, possibly due to better syncing of their circadian rhythms.
A fresh sports bra for spring
A new fitness routine is a great excuse for a new sports bra – and we’ve got a fabulous one for you!
Our “game-changer” Aerocool bra – frequently named in ‘best sports bra’ lists in the media, and highly rated by our customers – is now available in a brand new colourway, emerald green.
If you’re looking for something different, we’ve created a range of brilliant wirefree sports bras to suit low, medium and high-impact intensity exercise.
Adjustable Fit Petite
Designed specifically for petite frames, this sports bra features an adjustable racerback for the best fit anytime. Available in A to D cup.
Impact Free Full Cup
100% cotton support for low to medium-impact activity. Available in G to K cup.
Lola Twin Pack
This non-padded, crop top-style wirefree bra is perfect for low-impact intensity exercise such as yoga, Pilates or walking. Available in AA/A to D/DD cup.
