Going green has come a long way within the last few years- we have all been toting our little eco-friendly grocery bags to shops, we’ve been conscientiously recycling and composting in the right bins, and cycling or walking when we get a chance to reduce the amount we use our cars. But what about our fitness routines?
I’ve served up 4 easy ways you can step up your “green” fitness routines. Remember, a slight change can reduce your carbon footprint exponentially if you make the habit stick for the long run. You may even find it’ll save you some money too. Now how’s that for going green?
I believe that there is no better time to usher in the return of our favorite outdoor workouts and green-tweak our fitness habits now, rather than later.
ONE
Take It Outside
There’s no better reason to swap out your gym schedule at least 2-3 times a week for some one on one time with sweet Mother Nature, as it is the summer and we should make the most of this sun, even if it is very minimal here in England. And even if you don’t live in England, it is still summer and the most of the rays should be used up…. and since according to research, three-quarters of U.S. teens and adults are deficient in vitamin D, the so-called “sunshine vitamin”, whose deficits are increasingly blamed for everything from cancer and heart disease to diabetes, we’re pretty sure a little more activity in the sun’s rays will do you, and everyone else the world of good. It’ll also save some energy from that tired treadmill regime you loathe anyway. Good for you and good for the environment: Two Birds. One Stone.
TWO
Pop Those Bottles
Did you know one plastic bottle can take hundreds of years to decompose; loading up our landfills for centuries at a time and that the production of just one plastic bottle uses energy, omits toxins into the air, and uses more water to produce than actually put into the bottle for drinking? Instead of buying that bottled plastic drink to bring with you to the gym, invest in a reusable water bottle that you can carry with you. You can fill it as many times as needed and if you’re at the gym, most have filtered water fountains that are healthier and more quality than most bottle water brands anyway.
THREE
One Man’s Trash…
Recycle your gear to help others get a green workout.
Don’t throw those cruddy old running shoes in the trash. Did you know you can recycle them? The same goes for your yoga mat, t-shirts, shorts, fleeces and other high-tech layers, kids’ sporting equipment (from baseballs to skipping ropes to socks and whistles), even your swim cap. Money-saving bonus: Some organizations offer discounts off purchases of new materials, or offer other rewards for your donations. For example, Nike’s Reuse-a-Shoe program takes athletic shoes and turns them into running tracks, playground surfaces, cushioning pads, and more. But there are plenty of programs that do similar things to help others.
FOUR
Green is the New Black.
Yes, that’s right. Your workout fashion can also now be eco-friendly.
More and more brands are turning to recycled alternatives to bring us more high tech fabrics from low-tech trash. Our sports bras from Dans-ez.com are made with microfibre knitted yarn which is sourced in the EEC, this means that we are not leaving a large carbon footprint by importing from the far East. Also, the cotton and Lycra fabrics we use for the bra’s and some leotards are eco-friendly because a large percentage of the product is entirely natural. Other brands that offer “green” activewear like Dans-ez.com are, Patagonia, Athleta and New Balance as they supply some great eco-friendly material alternatives and you will be well on your way to walking that green fitness runway.
There are many other friendly products being supplied, for example; yoga mats, that are biodegradable and made with eco-friendly TPE material , it is now easier more than ever to be passionate about both our practice and our planet.
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