5 benefits of participating in outdoor activities and adventure sports

Besides building better self-esteem resulting from regular recreation, outdoor activities of any kind are a great way to get out and enjoy nature and are known to enhance a person physically, mentally, socially and emotionally. Whether it is a mild activity or extreme sports, you are bound to feel your spirits soar. The innumerable benefits of outdoor recreation keep you and your family physically and mentally healthy.

Incomparable Benefits of outdoor activities

  1.     Enhance physical fitness 

Any sporting activity like swimming, basketball, tennis, badminton or hiking, canoeing, trekking, etc is a great way to get a good cardio workout without feeling like you are exercising.  The fun element not only makes you fitter but includes a fun activity in your daily routine. This is a great way to keep cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, etc. at bay and strengthen your muscles.  Like all forms of physical exercise, it is imperative to utilize proper stretching techniques to keep your muscles in good shape. The fitness regime of adventure sports enthusiasts includes dynamic stretches and teaches them to relax the upper body and tighten their muscles to avoid suffering an injury. To avoid sore muscles, they work on strengthening different muscles, enjoying much better overall fitness than the common man.

 

 

 

 

 

Source: Science Friday

  1.     Innumerable social benefits

The amazing outdoors presents several social benefits like making new friends, bonding with like-minded people and building a community with people of all ages or genders. In today’s techno age, this is an ideal way to meet people and forge friendships that are integral to our state of well-being. There are several day-outing resorts in Bangalore, which conduct fun team building activities. One such resort is Discovery Village that offers fun-filled activities that are great families and groups.

  1.     Promotes Mental & Emotional wellbeing

Outdoor activities help reduce stress, anxiety and often depression. Whether it is the feeling of being physically fit or regular interactions with people, cumulatively, this helps build better self-esteem and abandons loneliness. Even if you go solo for a brisk walk, just being one with nature, breathing in the fresh air, relaxes you and has a tranquil effect on your personality. Research has proved that people who get outdoor exercise enjoy deeper, longer and a restful sleep feeling more energetic, confident and creative the following day.

Adventure sports also helps you develop humility and boosts your self-confidence teaching you to embrace your imperfections and mortality if you need to survive the experience. Building trust with on your instructor and following instructions correctly are all character-building exercises teaching person humility and the ability to listen. Extreme sports enable you to overcome any physical challenges; after all, each activity is unique in its complex nature. Completion of such tasks, reap rich rewards overcoming all and any physical limitation and serve as huge self-confidence boosters after accomplishing a task so physically daunting. The newfound self-confidence has a positive impact on every aspect of your life, which makes extreme sports a great idea for everyone.

Source: Whitley Community Development Association

  1.     Gain the ability to maintain calm in a crisis

The benefits of adventure sports are unparalleled. Adventure or Extreme sports like mountain biking, snowboarding, skateboarding has gained immense popularity in recent years owing to the adrenalin rush that comes with it. Besides contributing to physical fitness, adventure sports are huge intellectual and morale boosters. Menacing as they may look, extreme sports push a person’s physical and mental limits, teaching him to keep calm even under pressure. Folks who regularly participate in adventure sports are able to think fast and navigate difficult situations comfortably without breaking a sweat.

  1.     Develop skills in fear management

All of us face innumerable fears, some easier to conquer than most. Participating in adventure sports like paragliding, rock climbing, jumping from an aircraft, etc. helps you confront your extreme fears leaving you feeling mentally strong and positive. Doing an extreme sport like bungee jumping feels impossible to most, but those who have done it have experienced a rise in confidence and a definite fall in their fear response.

Conclusion: Every individual can benefit from the outdoors, whether you choose a lighter activity or adrenalin-pumping adventure sport. The physical, social, mental and emotional benefits can hardly be undermined. In Bangalore, there are many options and places for adventure day-outings. So, come next weekend, skip the mall, get your gang together and take off for a fun trek or try-out paragliding at Nandi Hills. We guarantee you; it is an experience you will not forget.  

Olivia Watson

Olivia is a world traveler who has been to 27 countries in just over 15 years. She loves to share her knowledge of traveling to help others travel safer, cheaper and have more fun.
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