The present study is a synthesizing analysis of international literature on correlations between sustainability, sport, and physical activity. The study of sustainability is considered essential in modern research; its multidisciplinary approach relies on sports science and sports economics as well. There are several aspects of sustainability that are closely associated with health and health preservation; the beneficial effect of exercise on health is also widely known. For the analysis of this complex matter, our current study relied on secondary sources, and besides exploring specialist literature, it also illustrates and analyzes related statistical data. Our results highlight the correlations between living environment and physical activity, the importance of increasing individual commitment towards sustainability and using green spaces for exercising, as well as questions on social and environmental development in relation to physical activity. The study revealed the existence...

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes that health and well-being are essential to achieving the United Nations (UN) Development Agenda 2030, which includes the goal of empowering people to adopt active lifestyles while protecting the planet’s health. This article aims at exploring how exercise performed in different natural settings can contribute to improving health and to a more sustainable world. We define “exercise” as a form of physical activity undertaken to increase fitness, health, and well-being, and argue for the importance of “green” and “blue” exercise as forms of physical activity that are associated with the protection and sustainability of natural settings and the promotion of planetary health. Blue and green exercise should become a focus of public policies, especially when outdoor activities are being identified as fundamental for the promotion of mental, physical, social, and spiritual health. The current paper intends to raise the awareness of political d...

In Czech, turistika activities have historically involved active movement on foot through the countryside. More recently the English term ‘Green Exercise’ (GE) has referred to physical activities that take place in nature, in a park or in natural exercise areas. A research project established by a team at University of Essex in the UK, headed by Professor Jules Pretty (Pretty, Griffin, Sellens, & Pretty, 2003), during the last twelve years has implemented a multi-disciplinary approach to examining and quantifying the benefits of GE activity for health and well-being. Their research team used different techniques to explore the mechanisms underpinning the psychological and physical benefits of GE using both laboratory studies and in field-based approaches. This article reviews this recent research on GE, its impact on the policies and practices of a number of health and environmental organisations, and provides implications for the Czech context and internationally.

Physical inactivity and disconnection from natural environment are motives for worry to public health, due to their contributions to the prevalence of non-communicable diseases, mortality and several psychological problems. The paper aims to identify and describe the benefits of outdoor exercise and physical activity to health and well-being. Theories are described to explain the relationship between nature and physical activity, which leads to the proposal of 'green exercise' concept. Studies carried out in Portugal analyse the relationship between green exercise, well-being, vitality, mindfulness, stress, anxiety and depression, as well as relatedness to nature. The research about benefits of physical activity in contact with nature allows the identification of green exercise recommendations. Finally, the article explores the implications of green exercise to health and active lifestyles promotion, indicating several actions as public campaigns, accessibility, or training programs for professionals, in order to raise the time spent in contact with nature. EL EJERCICIO Y LA NATURALEZA: UNA COMBINACIÓN RELEVANTE PARA LA SALUD Y EL BIENESTAR RESUMEN: La inactividad física y la desconexión del entorno natural son motivo de preocupación para la salud pública, ya que contribuyen a la prevalencia de las enfermedades no transmisibles, la mortalidad y diversos problemas psicológicos. El objetivo es describir los beneficios de la actividad física y ejercicio outdoor para la salud y el bienestar, así como las teorías que explican la relación entre la naturaleza y la actividad física, llevando al concepto del "ejercicio verde". Estudios realizados en Portugal analizaron la relación entre ejercicio verde y bienestar, vitalidad, atención, estrés, ansiedad, depresión y conexión con la naturaleza. La investigación sobre los beneficios del contacto con la naturaleza y el ejercicio verde permite identificar recomendaciones. Por último, se exploran las implicaciones del ejercicio verde en la promoción de estilos de vida activos y la salud, con acciones como campañas, accesibilidad y formación de los profesionales para aumentar el contacto con la naturaleza. PALABRAS CLAVE: ejercicio verde, contacto con la naturaleza, el bienestar, consecuencias para la salud. EXERCÍCIO E NATUREZA: UMA COMBINAÇÃO RELEVANTE PARA A SAÚDE E BEM-ESTAR RESUMO: A inactividade física e desconexão do ambiente natural são motivos de preocupação para a saúde pública, pois contribuem para a prevalência de doenças não transmissíveis, mortalidade e vários problemas psicológicos. Pretende descrever-se os benefícios da actividade física e exercício outdoor para a saúde e bem-estar. Descrevem-se as teorias que explicam a relação entre natureza e atividade física, conduzindo à proposta do conceito de " exercício verde ". Estudos realizados em Portugal analisaram a relação entre o exercício verde e bem-estar, vitalidade, atenção, stress, ansiedade e depressão, bem como a ligação à natureza. A pesquisa sobre os benefícios do contacto com a natureza e também do exercício verde permite também a identificação de recomendações. Finalmente, o artigo explora as implicações do exercício verde na promoção da saúde e de estilos de vida activos, indicando várias ações como campanhas, acessibilidade, ou formação para profissionais, de forma a promover o tempo passado na natureza. PALAVRAS CHAVE: exercício verde, contacto com a natureza, bem-estar, implicações para a saúde.

In recent decades, concepts and ideas from James J. Gibson's theory of direct perception in ecological psychology have been applied to the study of how perception and action regulate sport performance. This article examines the influence of different streams of thought in ecological psychology for studying cognition and action in the diverse behavioural contexts of sport and exercise. In discussing the origins of ecological psychology it can be concluded that psychologists such as Lewin, and to some extent Heider, provided the initial impetus ...