5 outdoor exercise ideas in Huntsville to boost your serotonin

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Emily Grace Lyons and Sarah Lancaster, two physical therapists at TOC. — Emily Grace Terry and Sarah Lancaster, two physical therapists at TOC (Lacey Muenstermann / Hville Blast)

If the gym is not motivating you this spring, we found some great alternatives in the Huntsville area, including some that are so fun they don’t feel like workouts.

Read on to learn more about these five outdoor exercise ideas and the benefits of them, according to two physical therapists from The Orthopedic Center (TOC).

How much activity do you need weekly?

Playing pickleball — It’s time to get active, Huntsville! (Lacey Muenstermann / Hville Blast)

Staying healthy isn’t difficult when you make a plan and stick to it.

You first need to know how much time you should spend getting active. You should aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, according to Emily Grace Terry and Sarah Lancaster, two physical therapists at TOC.

Consistently hitting this number can reduce many risks, such as:

Diabetes
Heart attack
High cholesterol
Immune function
Obesity
Strokes
And more

Emily Grace and Sarah also recommend increasing those benefits by exercising outdoors.

“Exercising outside is a great way to soak up the benefits of vitamin D (it’s recommended to be outdoors 10-30 minutes each day) and improve your overall mood. It is also a great way to avoid boredom with workouts by varying your environment and type of activity.”
Sarah Lancaster

“Being active in nature is a great way to boost positive emotions, decrease stress and improve overall cardiovascular health. Fresh air leads to increased oxygen levels, which increases serotonin, our happy hormone! Exercising doesn’t have to be a chore; it can be as simple as a stroll in the sunshine.”
Emily Grace Terry

1. Get competitive with pickleball

Women playing pickleball at the Athens Rec Center — Joining a pickleball league is a great way to keep you accountable. (Lacey Muenstermann / Hville Blast)

Remember those days when you were a kid and would run around for hours playing games, not realizing you just got a killer workout in?

One of my favorite things about pickleball is how it can bring out the inner kid in you again, creating a fun, competitive setting where you can score a top-notch workout.

Benefits:

Fun + competitive sport
Full-body workout
Great for all ages and skill levels
Improves hand-eye coordination + agility.

Where to play around Huntsville:

Athens Recreation Center
Brahan Spring Recreation Center (Huntsville)
Challenger Gym (South Huntsville)
Guntersville Recreation Center
Mark Russell Recreation Center (Owens Cross Roads)

2. Grab a friend + start walking

Walking at Athens Rec Center — Who will you pick to be your walking buddy? (Lacey Muenstermann / Hville Blast)

Walking is one of the easiest ways to step into working out. It’s also a great way to boost community and your mental health by finding a walking buddy to keep you accountable.

Benefits:

A low-impact workout option
Builds community (an easy workout to do while catching up with a friend)
Decreases heart rate + strengthens heart
Lowers blood pressure

Some of our favorite (flat) trails in the area:

Athens Recreation Center
Big Spring Park (downtown Huntsville)
Bradford Creek Greenway (Madison)
Hays Nature Preserve (Owens Cross Roads)

If you need help overcoming an injury, visit TOC.

3. De-stress through yoga

Woman doing yoga — Yoga is a great way to boost your physical and mental health. (Lacey Muenstermann / Hville Blast)

Whether you’re dealing with stress at work or at home, yoga is a great workout option to help you center yourself and release tension.

Benefits:

Increases joint stability
Improves muscle flexibility
Helps with diaphragmatic breathing + relaxation
Strengthens core

Where to take outdoor yoga classes:

Fitness in the Park at Big Spring Park (every Saturday at 9AM during May + June)
Yoga by the Lake at Huntsville Botanical Garden (May 10, 10-11AM)
Yoga by the River at Hays Nature Preserve (every Saturday from 8-9PM during May + June)

4. Take the weights outdoors

Woman using outdoor gym station at Athens Rec Center — Did you know that several parks around Huntsville, like the Athens Rec Center, John Hunt and Legacy Park, have outdoor gym stations? (Lacey Muenstermann / Hville Blast)

Doing something as simple as switching up locations can re-energize your workout routine. While it’s nice outside this spring, try taking the dumbbells to your backyard or a park.

Benefits:

Assists with weight management
Improves muscle mass
Increases joint strength
Promotes bone density
Reduces fall risk

Some of our favorite parks around Huntsville:

Big Spring Memorial Park, aka “The Duck Pond” (Athens)
Brahan Spring Park (Huntsville)
Jones Farm Park (South Huntsville)
Legacy Park (Huntsville)

5. Enjoy scenic Huntsville through hiking

Hiking at Athens Rec Center — Unleash your inner explorer and hike on some of Huntsville’s best trails. (Lacey Muenstermann / Hville Blast)

Spring is one of the best seasons to go hiking, and Huntsville has so many fantastic spots. Along with bringing you spectacular views, hiking is also an intensive alternative to walking and is perfect if you want to take your workouts up a notch.

Benefits: