Fitness in Nature
What is Fitness in Nature?
As the co founder of Wild Camping Wiltshire I know being outside makes me feel better and lifts my mood. I decided to combine my fitness training skills with my love of the great outdoors and Fitness in Nature was born.
Just 20 minutes exercising in nature every day will have a positive impact .. I challenge you to do it!
It’s time to get back to basics, exercise, connect with nature and build resilience to develop a healthy tolerance to stress as our ancestors did.
My Story
In 2018 after a health scare I decided to start exercising.
I noticed a lot of people were running (even on dark, rainy nights!) and I thought I should give it a go. Running seemed a relatively cheap, accessible sport, we have beautiful countryside nearby and fingers crossed a lack of people around to see me!
I was sceptical about my ability to run as I had never run before and wasn't particularly fit after having four children. I never thought of doing any strength training.
Accordingly, I needed motivation. Here my husband stepped in, he encouraged me to join him a few mornings each week. It was tough, getting up 40 mins earlier but we did it and with the Couch to 5k app playing on our phone we set off!
This graduated 30 min programme involved a mix of walking and running and thanks to the simplicity of the concept was straightforward to engage with and most importantly enjoyable to listen to. We completed the programme, and I was hooked into running.
In 2023 gained the level 3 HFE (Health and Fitness Education) diploma in exercise referral, with a level 3 nutrition to support physical exercise and level 2 in planning and delivering gym-based exercise.
Running and exercising has now become part of my life. Exercising in nature has helped me focus on work, cope with the ups and downs of family life and more recently has helped to manage menopause symptoms.
What I Can Offer
Exercise has been used for the management of injuries and illness for many years. Exercising in nature is especially good as it decreases stress, improves cognitive function, blood pressure, mental health, daily tasks and sleep (ACSM American Fitness Index).
I can offer a tailored fitness programme to those people who have been referred by a GP to increase their physical activity levels. Those with existing health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke or type 2 diabetes.
I would like to support people who wish to become more active but feel they need encouragement and motivation to start like I did. I can tailor a fitness programme which will be based upon creating new and positive associations with exercise. My professional insight hightlights the importance of strength training combined with realistic goal setting to fit in with your life. Exercise can take many forms and doesn’t have to be running it can be walking for example.
Please contact me at wildcampingwilts@outlook.com for a no obligation, informal chat.
