Rows upon rows of people plodding monotonously on treadmills. Walking and running mindlessly, staring blankly at their individual television sets. Sound familiar? When it comes to physical activity, we have turned something wonderful and spontaneous into a systematized and boring routine… It’s time to break free.

Just like every other aspect of American society, exercise has become commercialized. Big, expensive fitness centers have manipulated the American public to believe that they need Stair Masters, leg extension machines, and treadmills to get in shape. What bothers me most about this mindset is not the ineffectiveness of working out in this way but the popular belief that exercise is a hassle–Not something to be enjoyed, but simply completed for the sake of our health. Because of this unfortunate belief, we have come up with new ways to desensitize ourselves from the act of physical activity–ipods, television, even video games. Through this desensitization and commercialization of fitness, we have become fit in a way that is not practical outside the gym, we have lost our connection with the natural world, and more importantly… We have lost our passion for movement.

Here at Wild Movement we think of fitness not as a chore to be completed but a fun and exciting aspect of total health. We realize that fitness can be both fun and highly effective. That we can get in the best shape of our lives and enjoy every minute of the transformation.

Don’t fall for the American Fitness Myth. You don’t need to spend 20+ dollars a month or use special exercise machines to get in shape. In fact I’ll give you 7 reasons why you should cancel your gym membership and start rediscovering your hidden passion for movement today!

7 Reasons to Cancel Your Gym Membership

1. Machines build awkward and non functional muscles.

Muscles built with leg extension machines and lat pulldown bars do not transfer outside the gym. In life, muscles are never used in isolation. When you are running, jumping or lifting something, hundreds of muscles all fire and work together to complete the task. Conversely, exercise machines work individual muscles in isolation, developing awkward and impractical strength. If you can bench press 300 pounds but cant scale a wall to escape danger what good are your muscles? They aren’t practical.

2. For Increased Energy

I believe that the key to personal happiness and wellbeing is time spent outdoors in nature. This is the reason why so many american people are overweight and unhealthy. Most of us spend almost every waking hour indoors breathing stale air and avoiding the sunlight that is so critical to our health, energy and wellbeing. Use the time you would normally spend in the sweaty, artificially lit gym to get outside– breath in the crisp, clean air, soak up the suns healing rays and explore the playground that is the natural world :)

3. To Save Money

On a more practical note, canceling your gym membership will save you a good 300+ dollars a year. By training practical movement skills outdoors, you can achieve a new level of fitness and personal wellness while saving a substantial chunk of change.

4. Exercising Outdoors is More Fun

I’ll give you two scenarios, you tell me which sounds more fun:

A. Spending 30 minutes indoors on an elliptical machine staring at the electronic display and counting down the minutes till you get to stop.

B. Charging through the woods on a beautiful sunny day, lifting logs and rocks, and climbing trees with the wind blowing through your hair.

Okay, I may have dramatized both options. But I think you’ll agree which one sounds both more effective and more enjoyable.

5. To Get Stronger

First, let me define strength. In my opinion, strength is not the ability to bench press 300 pounds but the capacity to complete a variety of real world tasks with ease. The ability to run fast but also far, to move dexterously but also lift heavy objects. Training real world exercises like running, climbing and jumping in a natural and varied environment is the best way to develop this kind of real, practical strength.

6. For Your Mental and Spiritual Health

Countless studies have shown the parallels between physical exercise and decreased stress levels. However, what is often overlooked is the importance of time spent in nature when it comes to our mental health. Think about it: In the 200,000 years that humans have walked the planet, we have lived in nature for 199,500, and in houses for less than five hundred. Our bodies and minds are programmed for a life in nature. In short: Our modern lifestyle is unnatural to our biology and we are suffering the physical and mental repercussions. Even if you only have an hour a day to spend outside, make it count.

7. To Save Time

By not needing a gym to get in a killer workout, you become more flexible. With the ability to exercise anywhere using only your body, you’re able to free up a lot of time you would otherwise spend driving to the gym, working out and driving back.

How to Get Wild Today

Are you ready to make the shift? Here are a few ways that you can initiate this change today!

- There is power in numbers. Join a growing movement of like minded people who are defying cultural norms of obesity and unhappiness and discovering the energy and power they hold within themselves. sign up for our FREE email newsletter to receive regular blog updates as well as exclusive tips and insider content about the Wild Movement!

- Check out these resources on how to get started moving naturally and rediscover the health and happiness that is innately yours as a human being.

Wild Movement Philosophy

Barefoot Running: Getting Started

Barefoot Running Technique

Primal Fitness

Decide to better yourself, your relationships, and the planet by making a positive shift in your life today.

To your health and happiness,

Logan