There is an awareness today that notions of keeping fit through physical exercise do not necessarily involve resource to complex and expensive equipment and premises.
The cult for various forms of exercise, call it aerobic or otherwise according to taste, has progressed beyond reason, and become a social rather than just a health issue.
According to a feature in the Lancet for May 13, a pilot study has shown that a 40-year-old woman who attended weekly step aerobic classes derived more benefit from an activity that involved sawing and felling trees on a hillside and piling them into a bonfire. She spent more time and burnt more calories in modest forestry than in an organised class.
In general, any rhythmic activity utilising large muscle groups, such as raking or sawing, is usually intense enough to benefit the exerciser, and is motivated by enjoyment rather than a deliberate intention to lose weight or gain fitness. And the actual level of activity is not critical, provided there is activity.
Exercising outdoors carries a psychological benefit, not so much a physiological one. Moreover, looking at natural phenomena reduces stress and has antidepressive and restorative effects. It is known that even a view of nature from a hospital window promotes speedy recovery from surgery.
Then there are the different modes of useful exercise, like walking, running, swimming, weight-lifting and cutting back undergrowth. These are far more useful to the community than the ritual workout on a treadmill or a pointless stroll. Nevertheless, for most people the convenience of their form of exercise is important. It amounts to integrating physical activity into one's personal lifestyle, whether it be indoors or out in the wilderness. The search for technical aids and time saving devices does little to help in the quest for a healthier body and soul.