鲁滨逊旅游网

　　Akers， A。， et al。 2012。 Visual color perception in green exercise： Positive effects on mood and perceived exertion。 Environmental Science & Technology， 4 8661–66。

　　Klepeis， N.E。， et al。 2001。 The National Human Activity Pattern Survey （NHAPS）： A resource for assessing exposure to environmental pollutants。 Journal of Exposure and Environmental Epidemiology， 11 231–52。

　　翻译：王宇晨

　　Nakau， M。， et al。 2013。 Spiritual care of cancer patients by integrated medicine in urban green space： A pilot study。 Explore： The Journal of Science and Healing， 9 87–90。

　　Association of Nature & Forest

　　In one study， researchers examined performances by 128 track-and-field athletes in four locations rated for greenness。 Data analysis showed that greenness predicted performance： A majority of athletes achieved their best performances at the greenest sites （DeWolfe， Waliczek & Zajicek 2011）。 These athletes self-selected for study inclusion， so results cannot be generalized。 More research is needed on the role of landscaping and environment on track-and-field performance。

　　natureandforesttherapy.org/infom.org/index 

　　Hansen， M.M。， Jones， R。， & Tocchini， K。 2017。 Shinrin-Yoku （forest bathing） and nature therapy： A state-of-the-art review。 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health， 14 851。

　　Green exercise is any form of physical activity that takes place in urban green spaces like city parks and campuses maintained by people or in natural green spaces with minimal human upkeep。

　　世界范围内有很多自然训练相关的组织，可以访问他们的网站，学习更多知识：

　　shinrinyokula.com/

　　Shin， W.S， Shin， C.S。， Yeoun， P.S。 2012。 The influence of forest therapy camp on depression in alcoholics。 Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine。， 17 73–76。

　　Running through the forest。 Cycling through your neighborhood park。 Walking alongside a river。 To most people， “green exercise”—intentionally being physically active in natural environments—feels good， and growing research evidence confirms its benefits （Calogiuri， Patil & Aamodt 2016）。 Here’s a look at what the latest findings tell us about why you may want to incorporate green exercise into your training programs—and even suggest specific nature-based practices for stress reduction and general well-being。

　　Mounting scientific evidence shows that being active in nature boosts

　　Mind （National Association for Mental Health）。 2015。 Making sense of ecotherapy。 London： Mind。

　　Research Limitations

　　Calogiuri， G。， Patil， G.G。， & Aamodt， G。 2016。 Is green exercise for all？ A descriptive study of green exercise habits and promoting factors in adult Norwegians。 International Journal Environmental Research and Public Health， 13 1165。

　　Based on significant scientific evidence， the World Health Organization now recognizes the link between urban green spaces and more community-based physical activity， with resulting improvements in health and well-being （WHO 2016）。 European member states of the United Nations have made a commitment “to provide each child by 2020 with access to healthy and safe environments and settings of daily life in which they can walk and cycle to kindergartens and schools， and to green spaces in which to play and undertake physical activity。”

　　For example， when 14 indoor cyclists were exposed to a tinted red， green or achromatic gray video of a rural cycling course， University of Essex researchers found that participants had the least mood disturbance and lowest rating of perceived exertion while they were watching the natural green video。 Study authors noted that their findings pointed to potential cognitive mechanisms underlying the benefits of green exercise （Akers et al。 2012）。

　　Other positive aspects of green exercise include sensory stimulation， which awakens present-moment awareness； physical challenge and the self-confidence gained from achievement； a sense of play； and feelings of connection with nature and with the family， friends and pets with whom we’re sharing the outdoor time。

　　With an understanding of current green-exercise research， we’re reminded that being active in nature is restorative to brain， body and spirit。 “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread， places to play in and pray in， where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul，” said environmentalist John Muir。

　　wildernessguidescouncil.org/

　　As fitness professionals， we know that modern living has stripped natural physical activity from daily life， requiring us to integrate doses of exercise to maintain health， but are we considering how modern living has also eliminated most outdoor activity？ Americans and Canadians spend an average of 87% of their day in buildings and 6% in cars， leaving just 7% for outdoor time， and that includes walking to stores， so even less time is available for being active in nature （Klepeis et al。 2001）。 This limits not only green exercise but also access to clean air and sunlight—affecting circadian rhythms that regulate sleep， appetite， mood and energy levels。

　　Defining Green Exercise

　　Researchers theorize about why green exercise offers so many health benefits—including boosting the body’s self-healing through the immune system， giving the brain essential rest from technostress and overstimulation， and affecting our psychology and physiology through our innate affinity for the color green—but exact reasons are still to be determined。 The theory that exposure to nature is in itself beneficial to people is bolstered by studies that show that viewing videos of nature scenes， having indoor foliage or flowers， seeing nature through a hospital room window， or simply having green classroom walls boosts mental and physical well-being and performance （Hansen， Jones & Tocchini 2017； van den Berg et al。 2016）。

　　Study findings on green exercise speak loudly： The advantages of exercising in healthy， natural environments go beyond the benefits of exercising in synthetic indoor locations。 Green exercise delivers physical， mental and even spiritual rewards and has positive effects on health， well-being and athletic performance。 Being active in nature has many advantages compared with doing the same activity inside or on city streets：

　　Perhaps it’s time to take some barefoot walks in the grass。

　　Underlying Mechanisms

　　Ecotherapy or nature therapy。 In the United Kingdom， the concept of ecotherapy goes beyond physical activity to include any outdoor activity that improves mental and physical well-being—including， but not limited to， intentional work with animals， wilderness protection， and arts and crafts。 The charitable organization Mind defines ecotherapy as a program “where a trained therapist leads you through different activities to develop a balanced relationship with nature that benefits your well-being” （Mind 2015）。 Nature therapy is defined as “a set of practices aimed at achieving ‘preventive medical effects’ through exposure to natural stimuli that render a state of physiological relaxation and boost the weakened immune functions to prevent diseases” （Hansen， Jones &Tocchini 2017）。

　　Forces of Nature

　　绿地运动，受益无穷

　　What the Research Says

　　Ready to Take It Outdoors？

　　While the definition encompasses any physical activity in these environments， most studies done so far have examined walking， running and cycling （though some have included gardening， fishing， horseback riding and more）。 Study subjects have typically been nonexercisers， but some research has included regular exercisers and competitive athletes （Lawton et al。 2017）。

　　（Donnelly et al。 2016； Rogerson 2017）