Whether you’re a sports enthusiast or simply looking for new ways to recharge your batteries outdoors, spring offers a wealth of opportunities to revitalize your body and mind. Three sporting activities stand out for their ability to combine simplicity, well-being and health. From rucking to pickleball to yogi walkie, explore how these disciplines offer a multitude of benefits for your physical and mental well-being.
Le rucking
Rucking consists of walking outdoors with a weighted backpack for around thirty minutes. This practice helps to strengthen the entire body thanks to the weight of the bag. Whether legs, back, shoulders or even feet, all muscles are used while walking. This discipline, initially practiced by the military, is a good way to burn fat, if you plan to cover a sufficient distance to expend your energy. As for the mind, walking is an opportunity to appreciate nature, but also to reduce the stress of daily routine and to recharge your batteries. According to a study, walking at least 2,300 steps per day reduces the risk of death associated with cardiovascular disease. By adding weight with the backpack, the walking effort is more sustained and the intensity goes up a notch.
Le pickleball
Halfway between tennis and badminton, pickleball is a popular sport that is unanimously appreciated in the United States, particularly among people in their sixties. Regular practice of this racket sport has many benefits for mental and physical health. It proves beneficial for improving cardiovascular health, endurance and respiratory capacity, as suggested by this American study. It would also be a good physical activity to improve mental well-being, according to the Apple Heart and Movement Study, conducted by the tech giant in collaboration with Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the American Heart Association in 2023. In the United States, this sport is very popular due to its accessibility. In fact, it does not require any physical condition or particular skills.
Le yoga walkie
The yogi walkie is quite simply a discipline that combines yoga and hiking. Gentle and soothing, this discipline is ideal for those looking for an alternative to overly intense cardio exercises. To practice it, simply walk, while working on your breathing and incorporating a few yoga postures.
This discipline has many benefits. Yoga improves balance, develops flexibility and allows you to gently shape, sculpt and tone your body. It is also a good exercise to reduce stress, relieve anxiety and improve mood. Indeed, a Spanish study published in 2023 revealed that yoga would help reduce symptoms of depression. As for walking outdoors, it allows you to clear your mind while strolling, lose weight and stimulate blood circulation, while strengthening the cardiovascular system.
