5 eco-friendly ways to exercise

With global warming becoming more and more apparent, we are all looking for ways to be a little greener, no matter how big or small.

Often, ‘eco-friendly’ sometimes means it's not ‘budget-friendly’, but making your workout routine more eco-friendly doesn't have to cost you much, most of the time it can be free!

1. Walking or hiking

There are so many benefits to taking a walk or a hike as part of your exercise routine, from beautiful landscapes to improving muscle endurance. Walking or hiking is a full body workout that reduces your carbon footprint and it doesn’t cost a thing! Although, it is a good idea to get comfy shoes, which can be quite pricey.

Walking has a range of benefits including:

• Helps maintain a healthy weight and lose body fat

• Improve muscle endurance

• Strengthens bones and muscles

• Improves cardiovascular endurance/fitness

• Can help prevent heart diseases

• Reduces stress and tension

• Improve balance and coordination

• Strengthens immune system

Why not make it even greener by swapping out the plastic water bottle for a reusable water bottle.

2. Workout at home / avoid gyms

Gyms use a lot of electricity throughout the day, so avoiding them is a great way to make your routine more eco-friendly and also saves money.

Alternatively, you could find an outdoor gym to use or work out at home. There are plenty of workout plans that you can follow from home now, you just need to find the right one for you depending on your goals.

If you feel as though not going to a gym will work for you, there are still ways to make your routine more eco-friendly, for example you could find a sustainable activewear company and ensure you wear sustainable workout gear as often as possible, for example organic basics.

3. Yoga

Whether it is at home or in a class, yoga is a great way to make your fitness routine sustainable and is becoming increasingly popular.

Although yoga classes may use electricity if it's inside, you don’t need to use any equipment, therefore the only energy used is music and lighting.

If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere that has a nice temperature all year round, it's likely that you will find an outdoor class, making it that extra eco-friendly workout.

There are several benefits from yoga, including:

• Improves strength

• Helps with back pain relief

• Can ease arthritis symptoms

• Improves heart health

• Relaxes you and helps you sleep better

• Can improve energy and mood

• Can help manage stress

4. Plogging

Forget personal trainers, rubbish can be your new motivation!

Plogging is a combination of jogging and picking up rubbish while you do. It started as an organised activity in Sweden around six years ago, but over time has reached countries across the world.

Plogging doesn't have to be in a group and it doesn't have to just be jogging, you can walk, hike, or run while picking up litter and doing so will allow you to burn a few extra calories while helping the environment.

This is probably the best way to implement eco-friendly fitness into your lifestyle.

5. Cycling/mountain biking

If you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint, cycling and mountain biking are great ways of doing so while staying active.

Cycling has a range of health benefits and if you enjoy it you could save money by making it your number one way of transporting.

Health benefits include:

• Improve cardiovascular health

• Increased muscle strength and flexibility

• Decreased stress levels

• Strengthens bones

• Decreases body fat

• Improves joint mobility

• Improves posture and coordination

Again, you can make this even more eco-friendly by using sustainable bottles of water and workout clothes when cycling.

Having a sustainable workout routine can be difficult depending on your circumstances, we hope that this article has allowed you to think outside of the box when it comes to being greener, a little goes a long way.