If you’re asking why should you go into a jungle for hiking when you can go to a gym in a shopping mall, then you haven’t the slightest idea what nature brings.

Dr Rajbans Singh says outdoor activities are perfect for young people.

Consultant physician and geriatrician Rajbans Singh says outdoor activities are actually one of the best forms of exercise for young people. And since Formula One drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Mark Webber all go hiking to help keep themselves in peak physical and mental condition, it’s hard to disagree.

For starters, outdoor activities like hiking, trekking, trail running, etc. provide a combination of different physical exercises. It improves your endurance and flexibility, and it also gives you a good cardiovascular workout.

And since the air in the great outdoors is so much less polluted than it is in the city, these activities can also be very good for your respiratory system.

But it’s not just your physical health that will benefit from a regular hike.

“With the hustle and bustle in a city, adrenaline and stress hormones are constantly running in our systems, and stress release isn’t as simple as turning off a switch. It doesn’t happen instantly,” said Rajbans.

He added that people may achieve the physical results they want when exercising indoors, but they will still miss out on the mental health benefits that you get with being outdoors.

“Some people choose to go to a gym instead, but it is very different from outdoor activities. By spending a good amount of time away in a natural, calming environment, you release stress much easier.”