‘Green’ exercise good for mental health

• May. 4 by Louise Denny (0)

UK researchers are claiming that just five minutes of exercise in a park or other “green space” can boost a person’s mental health.

According to the latest analysis, combining activities such as walking, jogging or cycling with a natural area can increase your well-being, vastly improving your general mood and self-esteem.

The BBC have released the results of this study from the Environmental Science and Technology journal, who have suggested that the strongest impact of this combination of exercise and “green space” was felt by the younger generations.

Five minutes of walking, cycling, fishing or horse riding (amongst other activities) gave participants an immense feeling of well-being. Longer periods of exercise in a green environment gave continued positive effects, but the magnitude of these effects was much smaller.

Earth and Water

Further research showed that a greater effect was seen when exercise was conducted in an environment that also contained water – such as a river or lake.

Study leader and researcher at the University of Essex, Jules Pretty, claimed that those who were stressed or suffering with a form of mental illness could potentially benefit most from this “green exercise”.

Paul Framer, chief executive of mental health charity Mind, also showed support for this research, saying:

‘It’s important that people experiencing depression can be given the option of a range of treatments, and we would like to see all doctors considering exercise as a treatment where appropriate.’

Further praise

This is not the first research to suggest that time spent in a green environment is beneficial to a person’s health. The BBC have also published reports of “green spaces” reducing the health gap between wealthy and poor communities back in November 2008, and have given evidence that living near a natural environment can improve overall physical health in October of last year.

The “Adventure Boot Camp” is a strong supporter of this idea of exercise in an outdoor, natural space, as their programme promotes an hour of outdoor exercise a day, three to five days a week, for four weeks – claiming that women will “reduce weight and body fat, improve posture and gain self-confidence, strength [and] endurance.”

The organisers of the programme believe that there is increasing evidence that being outdoors when exercising helps people to feel better and live better. They are also firm believers that people need to exercise in a “green space” to feel the full potential of the programme they offer.

‘It’s not just being outside, it’s being outside in a green space; be it a park or a cricket ground you get the benefit of being amidst trees, plants and flowers.’

The West Midlands branch of the “Adventure Boot Camp” is located in Stratford-upon-Avon, which uses the local rugby fields for its programme.

The next session is a week long “blitz” and starts on May 24^th, so why not head down and improve your own mental and physical well-being.

For more information visit the UK Adventure Boot Camp.