Why exercise in the great outdoors is better - Independent Online Edition > Health
Now, schools are taking up the outdoor challenge by offering options from nature study in the playground to full days in the woods. The idea came from Scandinavia, where outdoor classes are encouraged. Research shows there are many benefits; bullying dwindles as children become more confident, for example, and those with attention-deficit disorders find they can concentrate better in lessons.
[...]
Walking is by far the most popular form of exercise in the UK. That's lucky, because it's also one of the healthiest, especially as you get older. And where better to do it than in one of our many green spaces? Walking on grass or earth, with its natural variations, gives your legs more of a workout than pavements. And you're also subtly challenging your balance, which tends to deteriorate with age.
Walking keeps your brain in shape, too. Researchers have found that a gentle stroll was enough to improve volunteers' scores in tests, as well as reducing their blood pressure. But the benefits were greater if the route went through greenery. In fact, parks are a life-saver for urban dwellers: the nearer you live to one, the longer you are likely to live.
[...]
DIG DEEP FOR YOUR HEALTH
To add to the rewards of flowers and fresh produce, gardening provides a workout that helps you to get into shape for the summer. For children, contact with natural organisms helps develop a healthy immune system. But the most proven effects of gardening are on mental health.
Scientists have come up with a theory that bacteria found in soil may trigger the brain to release serotonin, which lifts the spirits. And few jobs provide the kind of satisfaction that comes from a couple of hours' digging. This pleasant labour in natural surroundings is a time-honoured treatment for depression.
In fact, the psychological benefits of gardening are now so widely recognised that it is used as a form of therapy for people with mental-health problems. The charity Thrive, which promotes gardening for people with disabilities, points out that it does much more than just cheer people up. It can aid rehabilitation after injuries or illness, and slow the progress of dementia. It has proved so successful that there are now more than 1,000 "social and therapeutic horticulture" programmes running in the UK.
Now, schools are taking up the outdoor challenge by offering options from nature study in the playground to full days in the woods. The idea came from Scandinavia, where outdoor classes are encouraged. Research shows there are many benefits; bullying dwindles as children become more confident, for example, and those with attention-deficit disorders find they can concentrate better in lessons.
[...]
Walking is by far the most popular form of exercise in the UK. That's lucky, because it's also one of the healthiest, especially as you get older. And where better to do it than in one of our many green spaces? Walking on grass or earth, with its natural variations, gives your legs more of a workout than pavements. And you're also subtly challenging your balance, which tends to deteriorate with age.
Walking keeps your brain in shape, too. Researchers have found that a gentle stroll was enough to improve volunteers' scores in tests, as well as reducing their blood pressure. But the benefits were greater if the route went through greenery. In fact, parks are a life-saver for urban dwellers: the nearer you live to one, the longer you are likely to live.
[...]
DIG DEEP FOR YOUR HEALTH
To add to the rewards of flowers and fresh produce, gardening provides a workout that helps you to get into shape for the summer. For children, contact with natural organisms helps develop a healthy immune system. But the most proven effects of gardening are on mental health.
Scientists have come up with a theory that bacteria found in soil may trigger the brain to release serotonin, which lifts the spirits. And few jobs provide the kind of satisfaction that comes from a couple of hours' digging. This pleasant labour in natural surroundings is a time-honoured treatment for depression.
In fact, the psychological benefits of gardening are now so widely recognised that it is used as a form of therapy for people with mental-health problems. The charity Thrive, which promotes gardening for people with disabilities, points out that it does much more than just cheer people up. It can aid rehabilitation after injuries or illness, and slow the progress of dementia. It has proved so successful that there are now more than 1,000 "social and therapeutic horticulture" programmes running in the UK.
Comments