Exercise isn’t just for your body; it’s designed to improve your mind and emotions. And if you’re looking to intensify your exercise high, your best bet is to work out on a sandy beach. Researchers at the University of Plymouth have found that all outdoor locations are associated with positive feelings (enjoyment, calmness, refreshment), but that exercise at the coast is most beneficial. The environs of urban parks were not as satisfactory. Though, they add, an outdoor urban workout is still better than staying chained to a desk all day.
“There is a lot of work on the beneficial effects of visiting natural environments, but our findings suggest it is time to move beyond a simple urban versus rural debate and start looking at the effect that different natural environments have on people’s health and well-being,” says researcher Mathew White