{"id":32648,"date":"2019-03-21T14:39:42","date_gmt":"2019-03-21T12:39:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.faithful-to-nature.co.za\/blog\/?p=32648"},"modified":"2019-03-21T14:41:33","modified_gmt":"2019-03-21T12:41:33","slug":"outdoor-spots-in-jozi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.faithful-to-nature.co.za\/blog\/outdoor-spots-in-jozi\/","title":{"rendered":"UnbeLEAFable Outdoor Spots in Jozi"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you live in a concrete jungle, the beauty of nature isn\u2019t something you get the chance to experience often. Sure, there\u2019s a tree on every street corner, and your office is decorated with indoor plants, but if you don\u2019t spend time outside, it might be affecting your quality of life. Lie in your garden for an afternoon and recharge, or reconnect with the earth by hiking up a hill.<\/span><\/p>\n

Growing up, mama always used to nag my brothers and I to go play outside. We just assumed it was because she needed a moment clean the mess we\u2019d caused baking in the kitchen or playing Monopoly in the den. Though a large part of that was true, the old duck appreciated the importance of being outside. When you trade your office for the great outdoors, your body makes the most of the fresh air, sunshine, and the tremendous amount of space you\u2019ve given for it to move. It only takes mere moments before you begin to feel better.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have little ones, you need to make sure they play outside. The physical exercise will keep their muscles growing healthy and strong. Your child\u2019s curiosity will be peaked in a healthy garden buzzing with bees, birds and bugs, while the environment gets to work developing a stronger autoimmune system and a resistance to allergies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our evolutionary predators all lived very active lives. If they weren\u2019t hunting or gathering, they were migrating to the next camp to do much of the same. Being chained to a desk all day is a culture that is making many of us sick. If, for anything else, you need to get your outdoor fix to remind yourself that life exists outside of work – no job is worth ruining your health over. Take a short walk during your lunch break, or even start\/end your day with yoga in the park. The few moments of sun you get will immediately boost your Vitamin D and E. Deficiency in both those vital vitamins can cause disorientation, visual problems, muscle weakness, depression, and anxiety.<\/span><\/p>\n

So what do you do and where do you go if you want to get out more but live in the big smoke? That\u2019s easy. Just go outside; there are hundreds of public parks and gardens for you to enjoy.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you would feel more comfortable with a plan, have a look on the web for weekly park runs and hiking groups. Joburg is bursting with book clubs that meet at Zoo Lake, or cycling crews that would happily take you. My top 3 picks of outdoor activities (other than going for a run around the neighbourhood or doing yoga in the garden) are:<\/span><\/p>\n