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Researchers From The Universities of Copenhagen and Verona Discovered That Physical Activities in Natural Environments Reduce Stress, Improve Mood, Stabilize Heart Rate, and Increase Motivation, Offering Results Much More Effective for Body and Mind Than Gyms or Urban Areas.
A new study concluded that exercising in natural environments provides superior physical and mental benefits compared to activities performed in gyms or urban settings.
The research shows that exercising in green spaces improves mood, reduces stress levels, and stabilizes heart rate. Additionally, it promotes a more lasting sense of calm and well-being.
During the experiment, conducted by the Universities of Copenhagen and Verona, 25 young people walked for one hour at a steady pace of 6 km/h in three distinct settings: a forest park, an urban route, and a closed training room.
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The results were clear: contact with nature generates deeper and more consistent benefits for body and mind.
Participants who walked in forests reported less fatigue, greater feelings of tranquility, and a more positive emotional state.
Physiologically, they exhibited more stable heart rates and lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, indicating more effective recovery.
Evolution Shaped The Brain for Outdoor Life
The results are not only explained by subjective perceptions.
Human evolution shaped the brain to respond better to the natural environment, as the majority of the species’ history occurred in direct contact with nature. This connection remains active and influences how the organism reacts to the environment.
The study showed that anxiety, boredom, and irritability increased after walking in enclosed environments, while they significantly decreased in nature.
Boredom virtually disappeared in green areas, highlighting a more intense emotional connection.
Moreover, participants who walked in parks showed a greater desire to repeat the activity, a crucial factor for establishing long-term healthy habits.
Walking in Green Spaces Improves Physical Recovery
Another important finding of the study is the variability of heart rate, an indicator of the balance between stress and recovery.
It was up to 30% higher after exercises in nature compared to enclosed environments, showing a more efficient activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for relaxation and physical recovery.
Although gyms offer social advantages, such as group classes and interaction, incorporating at least one outdoor session per week can have significant impacts on overall health.
A simple thirty-minute walk in a park, urban forest, or beach can have important cumulative effects over time.
Nature as a Public Health Strategy
Published in September 2025 in the journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise, the study reinforces the importance of considering nature as part of public health infrastructure.
Natural environments are not just pleasant spaces: they serve as powerful preventive tools.
Various European cities, such as Barcelona and Copenhagen, already prioritize green infrastructure plans — ecological corridors and urban forests — not only for their environmental value but also for their direct impact on citizens’ health.
The European Parliament, for example, proposed to allocate at least 10% of urban land to accessible natural spaces.
Moreover, health systems in some countries are incorporating outdoor walks as a therapeutic supplement in cases of anxiety, mild depression, and chronic diseases.
In Scotland, the Nature Prescriptions program integrates activities in nature into the treatment offered by the public health system.
One Session Per Week Makes a Difference
The researchers’ conclusion is clear: regular exposure to nature enhances the effects of physical exercise, both in the short and long term.
Even a single outdoor session per week can reduce stress, improve mood, accelerate cardiovascular recovery, and increase motivation to maintain healthy habits.
Breathing fresh air, walking under trees, or simply moving in a green environment is not just a leisure choice. It is a decision that directly influences physical and mental balance and can transform how we approach health care.
Study published in the UK.
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