“I want to be more healthy.” A phrase we repeat to ourselves every few months only to return to the humdrum of day-to-day life. For those looking to breathe some sweet moves back into their life and become more active, we’ve got a few quick tips to get you going.
1. Quick Morning Workout
While the ultimate workout time truly depends on your sleeping patterns and lifestyle, the first few hours of your day set the tone for that which follows. Now that’s not to say that evening workouts are less effective, or that we discourage you from enjoying those precious moments curled up in bed before the harsh scream of your alarms snap you back to life.
However, morning workouts can help kickstart your body’s daily hormone production to make you more alert and awake. More specifically, working out in the morning may help your body produce the “stress hormone” cortisol, which is part of your body’s natural response to danger and allows you to feel alert.
Additionally, exercise releases mood-boosting brain chemicals, such as dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin and endorphins. Accessing your body’s mood enhancers earlier in the day will help you retain a positive sense of well-being throughout your entire day!
Morning workouts can be as short as you choose and still be effective in helping you reach maximum productivity for the day! If you are in need of some inspiration to help you enjoy some healthy exercise before the summer heat kicks in, check out these sweet moves for an active lifestyle!
2. Hit the Hiking Trails
Reconnecting with your health and nature at the same time can be as simple as strapping on your hiking boots and hitting your favorite trail. Fortunately, hiking comes with a ton of health benefits to help you make sweet moves towards a more fit summer.
Compared to walking or running, hiking offers unique bodily benefits outside of a simple cardio workout that improves cardio-respiratory fitness (heart, lungs and blood vessels). In fact, hiking exercises the same muscles and offers a comparable number of calories burned.
Unlike running, which causes more strain on your joints and lower back, hiking has a more positive effect on your bone and muscle health!
3. Yoga in the Park
Yoga has been a widely practiced method for reconnecting with one’s body and relaxing. While most may take their routines to a gym, you may want to consider taking your yoga practice outdoors for the summer!
Given the physical and mental health benefits of yoga, combining them with the mental health benefits of outdoor spaces can uplevel the experience tenfold. In fact, according to Erica Price, therapeutic recreational specialist at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital, getting outdoors can benefit your health in the following ways:
- Lowers your blood pressure and reduces stress
- Improves mood discrepancies such as anxiety, depression and anger
- Improves focus for adults and children who have difficulties focusing or controlling impulses
- Reduces symptoms of ADHD by removing major stress-inducing stimuli
Combined with the physical benefits of yoga, such as improved flexibility, muscle strength, respiration, balance, cardio health and more, taking your daily yoga routine outdoors is sure to help you live a more active and exciting summer!
4. Drink More Water
From the dehydrating effects of soda, alcohol and coffee, most Americans likely aren’t consuming the necessary 3-4 liters of water per day. This can lead to a slowed metabolism and increased feeling of lethargy. If you are looking for ways to spruce up your daily water intake, try adding just a couple of drops of our SweetLeaf® Water Drops® for a tasty, calorie-free flavor boost!
