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Talk about power athletes—The average human can create between 200 and 300 watts of electricity during a single workout! While environmental scientists are still investigating ways to harness human-generated energy, there are plenty of simple ways that people can “get green” while exercising.
•Combine your workout with a practical purpose. “Walk, jog or bike to work, which is good for you and the environment,” says personal trainer Becci Hillman. “Or spend time playing with your children to reap the physical benefits.”
•Trade your old exercise equipment. Talk to a friend about exchanging something you no longer use for something she feels the same way about.
•Avoid waste at the gym. Yoga instructor Tracy Hayes recommends bringing a BPA-free water bottle full of filtered water rather than buying a bottle of water and throwing it out.
•Bring your own towel—or only use one—to help reduce water usage.
•Ask your gym or yoga studio about their green practices. Many gyms are now using bamboo flooring, LED lights and energy-efficient washers and dryers to reduce their impact on the environment. Find out if your studio if it belongs to the Green Yoga Association.
•When you leave the gym, simply close the door behind you, particularly in the winter. This will reduce the amount of energy used for heating.
•If your gym has individual televisions for its cardio equipment, bring a book and turn off the TV monitor.
•If you work out at home, turn down the heat about 20 minutes before you begin. You’ll warm up anyway while you exercise.
•Old magazines? Instead of throwing them out, call your gym to see if they would like to keep have them for patrons who like to read while they use cardio machines. Just be sure to scratch or tear out your name and address to avoid identity theft.
•When possible, turn off the lights in the washroom after you use it.
•When you buy your next gym bag, consider one that is made of recycled materials. An excellent one is available at Gaiam.com
Do you have additional tips on creating an environmentally friendly workout? Post a comment, or find April on Twitter at AprilFitness or on Facebook at AprilRFitness.
To learn about ways that gyms are using science to create an even greener gym concept, visit http://smart2begreen.com/ .
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