Your Outdoor Living
Catch up on Your Outdoor Living features from previous issues:
Improve your cycling performance
Whether you want to get fitter and healthier or you’re just looking for a new hobby, taking up cycling could have a very positive effect on your life.
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Stay strong
Marathon season is here and many runners will be pounding the pavements as part of their training plans. However one of the things that strikes fear in the heart of every runner is the risk of injury.
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Pole position
If you are a keen walker looking to up your fitness levels, Nordic walking could be just the thing to turbo charge your next outdoor ramble. Walkers use specially designed poles which help to engage the upper and lower body, meaning that 90 per cent of the major muscles are being used with every step.
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How to be a winter warrior
Running in the summer time is so much more appealing than the winter. Here are three ways to keep training whilst keeping injuries at bay this winter.
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Rise to the challenge
Training for an event like a half or full marathon, a lengthy bike ride or a triathlon can be a demanding and time-consuming experience. However the sense of achievement once you have completed such a challenge often makes all the blood, sweat and tears worthwhile! Here we speak to three women about the physical challenges they completed and how they helped to improve their own health and fitness.
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Taking steps to good health
If gym workouts or organised sports fill you with dread, why not consider a form of exercise that is simple, free and has proven health benefits? Walking has been shown to help reduce stress and anxiety, whilst improving sleep and overall wellbeing. In fact, according to Dr Nick Baylis, FRSA, consultant psychologist at Cambridge University, walking can benefit our lives in ways we might not have considered.
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Cycling proficiency
Cycling is a fantastic form of exercise for keeping fit and enjoying the outdoors. However, in order to improve your performance and prevent injuries, strength exercises are a must.
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Your four-week summer fitness plan
Want to get fit and challenge yourself this summer? Try this four-week exercise plan devised by fitness expert Dean Hodgkin
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Glamp it up!
Don’t confuse glamping with old-fashioned camping. Being squashed in a leaky tent with a deflating airbed is a world away from glamping (i.e. ‘glamorous camping’).
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Woman's best friend
As any dog owner knows, going for a long walk in the fresh air with your four-legged friend is one of life’s greatest pleasures. But for those looking to increase their fitness and try out a new activity, the sport of canicross – cross country running with dogs – offers an exciting challenge.
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Salute the sun
If you are normally used to practising yoga in your living room or at a local studio, the idea of taking your practice outside might seem a little strange. However, spring is here now and summer is on the way, so it’s the ideal time to try perfecting your poses outside and enjoying the benefits of the fresh air and sunshine.
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A modern day treasure hunt
Thanks to computers, video games, TVs and mobile phones, children today are spending more and more time indoors in front of a screen instead of enjoying fresh air and outdoor exercise. With childhood obesity on the increase, activities that inspire kids to get outside, become physically active and explore their surroundings are to be encouraged.
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Get motivated!
We take a look at the benefits of joining a military-style bootcamp to boost your fitness levels
Whether you’re hoping to lose a few pounds in time for summer or wanting to improve your fitness levels, a military-style bootcamp could be just the thing to kickstart your health and fitness regime.
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Keep on running
Every year the London Marathon serves as inspiration to get us off the couch and into our running shoes. Yet once the initial enthusiasm wears off, poor technique can prevent us finding our flow and discovering the feeling of free and easy movement. Just as importantly, treating running as a task – another item to be ticked off a daily to-do list – is a likely route to boredom and bad habits, even for the most ardent of runners.
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Winter walking
Winter can be an exhilarating time to go out walking in the fresh air, but make sure you keep safe with our experts’ advice
It can be all too tempting to hide away and hibernate during the long winter months, but getting out into the countryside and going for a bracing walk can really help to lift your spirits. “Going out for a winter walk will not only help your physical health but the fresh air, exercise and scenery can really boost your mood,” says Simon Barnett, director of walking development at the Ramblers (www.ramblers.org.uk). However, it’s important to plan ahead when you are going walking in the winter as the short daylight hours and the possibility of snow and ice can lead to problems.
Read the full article here...
5 ways to enjoy the great outdoors
Tired of exercising in the gym? Why not get outside and enjoy the fresh air with our pick of the best outdoor activities.
Wild swimming
Fed up of swimming laps around your local swimming pool? You could always take the plunge and try wild swimming; the increasingly popular practice of swimming in natural waters such as rivers, lakes and the sea. Swimming is a great cardiovascular exercise as it works all the main muscle groups simultaneously whilst not putting pressure on the joints.
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Pedal power
Cycling is a fantastic way of improving your fitness levels. Practised regularly, it can help to build strength and muscle tone, improve your stamina, boost your cardiovascular fitness and improve your heart health. According to the British Cycling Federation, studies have shown that regular cyclists enjoy the general health of someone approximately 10 years younger! In addition, it is a low impact form of exercise, which means that it creates less stress on the joints, and it burns around 500 calories per hour when practised at a brisk pace.
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Autumn walks
Walking is a simple and easy form of exercise, and is particularly enjoyable during the colourful autumn months, says Simon Barnett
During autumn, as the weather gets colder, it's all too easy to get stuck indoors. But nature puts on such an incredible display at this time of year that it would be a real shame to miss.
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Keep on running
If you have been wanting to take up running but don’t know where to begin – look no further! Our handy guide covers everything you need to know
Many people will have been inspired to take up running after watching the London Marathon this year. After all, running is one of the simplest and cheapest forms of exercise, requiring very little in the way of equipment or accessories.
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On your bike
Cycling is a great way to keep fit and healthy and can be enjoyed by all the family. Here are our top tips for getting started.
There’s nothing better than heading out for a bike ride on a sunny day with the family and a healthy picnic in tow. In fact, cycling can be enjoyed almost anywhere and at any time of the year and doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
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Happy campers
Now that the warmer weather is here, get the family together and enjoy the benefits of a camping trip.
A camping trip is a great way to enjoy the health benefits of the fresh air and the great outdoors with friends and family. Numerous studies have shown that being close to nature can have a beneficial effect on our wellbeing, so why not pack up your tent and camping stove and make the most of the warmer weather?
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Walk this way
We take a look at the health benefits of walking and how to get started.
It’s springtime and many of us will want to start making the most of the brighter weather and kinder temperatures. What better way to do this than by going for a brisk walk in the outdoors?
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Top tips for walking your way to fitness
We take a look at the health benefits of walking and how to get started.
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Make the most of nature’s gym – the great outdoors!
If you find the idea of gyms or workout classes daunting, why not take advantage of nature's gym, the great outdoors!
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