From warms-ups to Lycra, - the fitness industry is a place of 'evolution' and change. The next move is toward 'green' exercise and facilities: outdoor work as exercise, or facilities that have reduced power lights or reduced flow shower heads.

I have been in the fitness industry since 1985 and have seen all sorts of changes during the past 22 years.  Everything from lycra and leg warmers to sports tops and running shorts; headbands to scrunchies to hair clips.  In addition there has been a shift away from exercise only to look good to exercise for mind body synchronicity.  Finally, there has been a swing away from indoor workouts towards getting outside and enjoying our natural environment.  I have always said if we harnessed the energy we used inside the gym lifting weights, running on treadmills and in group exercise classes we could rebuild communities, change lives, replant trees, and so much more.
 
Your exercise program can be as good for you as it can be for the environment as well.  Your workout can actually have a positive effect on green living. How do we define green living? Green living describes a lifestyle intended to ensure that one's impact on the environment is as minimal (or as positive) as possible. The easiest way to turn exercise into an environmental act is to move your workout outside. Besides connecting with nature and connecting with your community, you'll cut your electricity bill by turning off the treadmill and exerting yourself outside. You can also replace your conventional workout routine with conservation activities such as gardening, hiking, or trail building. By incorporating a few simple green practices into your fitness routine, you can fine-tune your body while helping to sustain the planet at the same time.

Heard of the green gym experience? What started in Europe is now spreading across the globe; some are popping up throughout the United States. These gyms might be classes which are slightly structured and cost nothing, consisting of people who meet a few times per week to get active and have fun while contributing to the wellness of the planet.  You can create your own fitness routine or follow a bootcamp fitness routine consisting of outdoor running, jumping onto and over park benches, lifting and throwing out trash that others might have tossed. It may include painting over graffiti as an exercise, think Karate Kid – wax on, wax off, paint the fence up, paint the fence down.

According to research carried out at Oxford Brookes University, regular Green Gym sessions improve cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength by allowing people to work at an activity and pace that suits them. Felling or planting trees, or just plain digging, burns as many calories a minute as step aerobics. It's physical effort, and it's good for you, but it's provided in such a way as to make a difference in your life and the planet. It is an outdoor general fitness routine with a purpose!

Another green gym experience may be exemplified by gyms which incorporate water-conserving shower heads and low-wattage light bulbs. If you spot any TV sets, they're likely programmed to turn off when not in use. They might feature biodegradable and natural cleaning products in the locker rooms and showers, and guests may be required to wear clothing made with organic cotton and other natural fibers.

Regardless of your gym type, why not carpool to and from your workouts? Or even better: Ride a bike or walk to your facility. Hey, do the same getting to and from work. Invest in organic energy bars or make your own to cut down on packaging. Bring your own water bottle to the gym, full of water from your home filter.

According to research carried out at Oxford Brookes University, regular Green Gym sessions improve cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength by allowing people to work at an activity and pace that suits them. Felling or planting trees, or just plain digging, burns as many calories a minute as step aerobics. But this, in a way, is the obvious stuff. It's physical effort, and it's good for you, but it's provided in such a way as to appeal to people like myself.

By Christina Leon, Staff Writer