Sustainable Fitness: Green Workouts and Wellness Habits for a Greener You
What was once lessened plastic use and ceased driving now encompasses mainstream environmentally conscious life. From the clothes people wear to the way they work out, change on the small scale makes a huge difference between your health and the planet. The good news is that your workout routine doesn't have to be compromised for you to become more environmentally friendly. In fact, you may find that embracing environmentally sustainable fitness practices can improve your overall wellness and reduce your impact on the environment.
Here's how you can make your workouts and wellness habits more friendly to the environment for a greener, healthier you.
- Rethink Your Workout Gear
The fashion industry is also one of the biggest environmental polluters, and 'activewear' is no exception. More than likely, most of the clothes you're working out in are made of synthetic materials-from materials like petroleum and natural gas-to form polyester, nylon, etc. These dissolve only with water, so they pour tiny plastic microbeads into the environment with every rinse. Ditch fast-fashion activewear for environmental-friendly alternatives.
One may look for workout wear made out of environmentally safe, natural, or recycled materials: organic cotton, bamboo, recycled polyester- just to name a few examples. Companies are creating apparel that fits their level of performance and durability, utilizing the most groundbreaking materials with the smallest environmental footprint. Some of the most recognizable innovators include companies such as Patagonia, Girlfriend Collective, and Pact, which make use of recycled fabrics, eco-friendly production, and ethical labor practices.
In addition to the eco-friendly fibers, cut down on your general purchases. These will last and you won't be replacing any activewear anytime soon: again, it'll save waste in the long term.
- Get out and forgo the gym
Actually, exercising outdoors is one of the easiest ways to get a fitness routine into the habit-forming category. While gyms are convenient and make great social haunts, they can be energy-intensive in the form of power demanded through lighting, heating, and the electricity used to run machines.
Going outdoor in nature can minimize carbon footprints, among others, like general health benefits it can provide. Natural activities such as hiking, jogging, or cycling and even outdoor practicing yoga expose you to direct fresh air and sunlight, making you feel better about yourself and your mood, enhancing Vitamin D levels, and lowering stress. This would help regain that forgotten old memory of open green places that 'bring it all back home' to sound health.
If, however, you do still prefer a gym workout, then look into eco-friendly gyms. These use renewable energy, energy-efficient lighting, and sustainable equipment to get them minimized from their impact. Some even offer self-powered machines wherein the energy generated by your workout can power the facility!
- Adopt Minimalism in Your Workout Routine
More kit does not necessarily translate into a more effective workout. Ditch the arsenal of machines and gear for minimalist workouts requiring minimal to zero equipment at all. So, push-ups, squats, lunges, and planks can do the trick. That automatically cuts down on manufactured fitness products and simplifies your workout routine while saving space.
But for the enthusiast of resistance training, seek ones made of sustainable materials, like bands using natural rubber or recycled materials. Another minimalist one would be a pair of adjustable dumbbells. These save you from a bunch of sets of weights and therefore save space.
- Get Rid of Single-Use Plastics
Hydration in exercising is something you cannot compromise on; however, the production of single-use plastic bottles leads to a huge source of environmental waste. About 50 billion plastic water bottles are used every year in the United States, and only a minute percentage of those is recycled.
Make your exercise routine a little greener by switching from single-use plastic bottles to a reusable one of stainless steel, glass, or BPA-free plastic. Best of all, these water bottles keep drinks cold for hours and are built to last, thus decreasing the amount of plastic that piles up in landfills.
- Green Work-Out Accessories
Seek out some green exercise equipment. Rather than ripping up a throwaway wet wipe after an exercise session, use reusable towels or biodegradable wipes that break down, made of natural materials.
- Fuel Up Responsibly
This means that your diet forms a part of your wellness routine as for sustainable choice around the food one eats can have an immense impact on the health of the individual and that of the planet. It makes up a significant number in carbon footprint due to deforestation, water usage, and greenhouse gas emission as meat and dairy are animal-based products.
Begin to include more plant-based foods in your diet and you will reduce your footprint. Legumes and whole grains are next on the list of fresh fruits and veggies, all of which are relatively nutrient-dense, but much less resource-intensive to produce. Even being a "flexitarian" meaning you eat mostly vegetarian but consume meat too can make a difference.
In addition to consuming more plants, focus on choosing locally grown, seasonal produce to reduce the carbon footprint associated with transporting food. There is nothing quite like seeking out bright, fresh, in-season produce that hasn't traveled far to find its way onto your plate than with a local farmers' market.
- Conscious Wellness Practices
The sustainability at the fitness level should represent both the mind and the body; it just refers to activities that promote the principles of being eco-friendly. Mindful activities like yoga or meditation not only help with reducing levels of stress and aiding in the promotion of mental clarity but also use no electricity and require no equipment.
For instance, yoga is environmentally friendly as it can be practiced either indoors or outdoors. If one wants to incorporate the touch of sustainability into the practice, use one of the more earth-friendly yoga mats, made from natural rubber or even cork, instead of the standard PVC ones. Cork is a renewable resource that is naturally antimicrobial and biodegradable, therefore a very good green option.
And similarly, exercising in meditation requires no equipment, yet it makes a great contribution toward mental health. Addition of mindfulness and meditation in your lifestyle enhances your overall well-being while, at the same time, reducing dependence on resource-intensive fitness equipment.
- Get Involved with Green Fitness Communities
Being surrounded by like-minded people makes it easy to build a sustainable routine since you're not only fit with them, but you're also concerned about the environment. Now, in many fitness communities, sustainability can be found by placing focus on making choices that are eco-friendly, such as group hikes and beach clean-ups or even virtual classes on sustainable living.
Find your local running clubs, or outdoor exercise groups, or sports events which have a green agenda. You shall be active while supporting those communities and reinforce your commitment to sustainability by spreading awareness and feelings of responsibility to the community.
Sustainable fitness is certainly not something that emerged very recently; it is a long-term plan toward both health and planet health. Those small eco-friendly changes can be sustained without forfeiting the essential fitness goals to support a healthy planet. Whether it is sustainable gear, exercising outdoors, or more plant-based meals, every step towards a greener lifestyle helps develop a fitter world for one and all.
It is time for the fitness world to come out of its shell and face the fact that it does indeed have an ecological footprint and should, therefore, strive to be a good example of sustainability in the wellness lifestyle. A person could take care not only of their human body but also assist in building a better, greener world by aligning their fitness routine with eco-friendliness.
