If you’ve ever pedalled up a hill before, it probably wouldn’t surprise you to hear that cycling is great for working the lower body, but did you know the health benefits reach far beyond your quads and hamstrings?
Check out these brain and body benefits of cycling:
30 minutes in nature for 30 days straight. Are you up for the 30×30 Challenge?
Ontario Parks is challenging you to spend the month of August out in nature. Being in nature has a wide range of benefits to our physical and mental health. Spending quality time in nature is an opportunity to connect with your loved ones and Ontario’s beautiful natural environment.
By accepting the 30×30 challenge, you are committing to a healthy lifestyle in the outdoors!
Continue reading 30 ways to get outside this August
Today’s post comes from Kyra Santin, a Natural Heritage Education and Marketing Student from our Northwest Zone.
George Santayana — poet, philosopher and naturalist — said, “The Earth has music for those who listen.”
The earth holds a lot of beauty within it. If we open our eyes and ears, and listen to the world that surrounds us, we can truly appreciate the music the earth is making.
Today’s post comes from Sarah McMichael, Ontario Parks’ Healthy Parks Healthy People Coordinator.
We all know that fresh air is good for us, right?
Time in nature has been proven to lead to better sleep, improved productivity, lower stress, increased self-esteem, better mood, lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system, and a lower risk of diabetes and heart attack. The research is clear: spending time in nature improves our physical, mental, and social well-being.
Imagine how much your health and happiness could improve if you spent quality time outdoors every day for a whole month. This is what the 30×30 Challenge is all about. Sounds like a great way to get healthy!
Whether you walk through the waves or jump off the dock, there’s no better way to cool off than going for a swim.
This summer, as you escape the sweltering heat in one of Ontario’s lakes, think about these head-to-toe benefits your body is receiving from that dip:
It’s back! Enjoy FREE day-use at all Ontario Parks on July 19, 2019 for Healthy Parks Healthy People Day!
Spending time in nature is good for our physical and mental health. There are tons of great events occurring across the province to foster appreciation for nature and raise awareness about the benefits of time in nature.
Write yourself a nature prescription and start your weekend early with FREE day-use entry to your favourite provincial park.
Check out our four spotlight events, or scroll down to see park events from across the province:
Continue reading Healthy Parks Healthy People Day 2019: events
Fishing is an iconic Canadian pastime. There’s nothing like spending the day by the water with your friends and family, casting a line and enjoying the great outdoors.
But did you know you can get more than a killer catch from a day of fishing? Fishing actually has benefits for your physical and mental health.
Here are a few ways fishing can improve your overall well-being.
Just when we thought nothing could top the “good for you” news about chocolate…
…research shows that paddling is good not only for our physical health, but for our mental health as well!
Here are some of the benefits that will have you reaching for your paddle:
It’s probably no surprise that hiking is good for your health, but it might surprise you that the benefits reach from head to toe!
Check out the brain and body benefits of hiking:
Screens are everywhere. Cell phones, Netflix, and video games can be distractions that keep us inside. It’s easy to spend hours chilling in front of your phone or TV.
These are hours we could be spending being physically active in the outdoors. Excessive screen time has negative impacts on our health, and this is especially concerning when it comes to children. Outdoor physical activity is crucial for healthy development.
