If you’re a City Sports Club member, odds are, you’ve already determined that an indoor workout is more your style. If you’re on the fence about joining a fitness club, you may be surprised by the benefits of indoor exercise. While there’s no right or wrong in terms of choosing an indoor or outdoor workout, and there’s nothing that says you must adhere strictly to one, it’s always good to know your options. To help you make an informed choice, let’s talk about the benefits and drawbacks of each workout environment. 

Indoor Workout

Benefits

  1. No Allergy Triggers 
    • This can be a major deciding factor for many people. Pollution, pollen, dust, grass, and a myriad of other sneeze inducing triggers can make outdoor workouts feel miserable. Indoors, you have the advantage of being distanced from allergens. 
  2. Sheltered from Weather Conditions 
    • Rain? Snow? Hail? Wind? No problem! Kick weather-based excuses to the curb when you have access to a gym and keep your routine going strong. Some people like to train in varying weather conditions, but if this isn’t you, you may find the climate control very appealing.
  3. Access to Restrooms 
    • We forget how important it is to have access to facilities until we suddenly need to go. Don’t forgo hydrating yourself because you’re afraid you’ll have to pee in a bush or wait until you get home. Workout indoors, hydrate often, and rest your mind that you’ll have what you need when you need it. 
  4. Motivation 
    • When others are working out and pushing for their goals, their energy can serve as your motivation. It’s kind of like knowing you have to clean but not feeling up to it until someone else starts to clean. If we feed off the energy of the people around us, it makes sense that working out at the gym can translate into a nice boost of motivation. 
  5. Access to Guided Instruction 
    • Having access to guided instruction, either from your personal trainer or from your group class instructor, means you can have a safer or more intense workout. You can ask questions, receive tips on your form, and fuel your workout with their encouragement and guidance. 
  6. Access to Weights 
    • There’s only so much strength training you can do outside before you need equipment to challenge your body further. If you’re looking to build muscle, and you don’t have ready access to heavy things, the gym would be just the right place to help you achieve that goal. 

Drawbacks

  1. Self-Consciousness 
    • Worrying about others watching you exercise is a real concern for many gym goers. The mirrors along the walls should remind you that people are watching themselves and their form, not you. Everyone at the gym is there to work out, but not everyone at the park or beach is there for that reason. Indoors or outdoors, you may get the occasional glance, and there’s really no avoiding it. So, it might be time to come to terms with the fact that someone will glance over at some point and that it should have no bearing on your workout. 
  2. Equipment You Want May Be in Use 
    • Going to a fitness club means you’ll sometimes have to wait for the weights or the machine you want to use. If you have other workouts on your agenda for the day, it’s easy to work on something else until the equipment you need frees up. Just make sure you kindly inform the person currently using it that you would like to step in once they’re done. If you know you won’t have time to wait for what you need, an outdoor or at-home workout can help give you more control over your time. You can also hit the gym at a less busy time of day. 
  3. You Must Get Yourself to Go 
    • Probably the biggest one is getting yourself to go. It’s easy to feel comfortable at home, tired from your day, cozy in your bed, and to make up a number of reasons why you shouldn’t get yourself down to the gym. Alternatively, stepping out the front door in your running shoes sounds a lot easier than packing your gym bag, hopping in your car or on the bus, and going to the gym. An easy way around this one is having your bag already packed with what you need so you can simply grab it and go. 

Outdoor Workout

Benefits

  1. Fresh Air Boosts Your Mood 
    • There’s something about sunshine, a crisp breeze, or the crunch of fallen leaves that is so therapeutic. The great outdoors can have a rejuvenating effect that feeds your physical and mental energy. Of course, if you’re jogging around the block and you have the buzz and bustle of street traffic in the air, you don’t get quite the same effect. You may have to go a little out of your way to get some solitude. 
  2. It’s Scenic  
    • On a treadmill, you won’t see or hear a bubbling stream or step out of the trees to a view of the hills at your feet. There are some things only nature can provide, and sprawling landscapes are one of them. Here in the Bay Area, we’re lucky to have some of the most picturesque vistas and lots of camera worthy city life. Don’t get desensitized to it just because it’s part of your everyday, get out there and take it in. 
  3. Lots of Options  
    • Outdoors, you can take your workout almost anywhere. You can go for a hike, a run around the block, walk by the lake, do yoga at the park, hit the slopes for some skiing, and more. There’s a lot of variety in what you can do and where you can do it. Switching things up is also a great way to fight off potential boredom and help you stick to your fitness goals.  
  4. You Can Bring Your Pet 
    • City Sports Clubs happily welcome service animals, but outdoor workouts allow for greater flexibility. You can work out with your dog, your horse, your gerbil, or with your adventure cat at your side. 

Drawbacks

  1. Planning 
    • Depending on what you’re doing, outdoor workouts can require some or a lot of planning. You may need special gear, bug spray, spare clothing, or other items. Even when you’re keeping it simple, at the very least you’ll still need to make sure your phone is charged and your keys are safely tucked away. 
  2. Weather Conditions 
    • The weather can be fine when you leave and rainy while you’re out there. If you don’t like the unpredictability, you may find an indoor workout more to your liking. You’ll also have allergens and possibly pollution to deal with. 
  3. Potential Dangers
    • Again, depending on your choice of workout, you may have to be on the lookout for cars, wildlife, and maybe even people. If you go someplace with little or no phone reception, and you go alone, you have to consider the risks and that you may have no one close enough to help if you injure yourself or if something happens.
  4. No Restrooms or Dirty Restrooms 
    • Park and beach restrooms are gross. Portable restrooms at the start of many hiking trails are probably even worse. Keep in mind that there may be no restrooms at all, and if there are, you may need to bring your own toilet paper and mentally prepare yourself before entering.

In the end, where you take your workout seems mostly dependent on how much time you’re willing to invest. You’ll want to consider what you need before, during, and after your workout. Understanding those three things can help you prepare well so all you have to focus on is you. 

For help building a meal plan, read our registered dietitian’s article on How to Make Your Own 7 Day Meal Plan. To access our monthly blog post highlights, subscribe to our newsletter today.