When you live in the city or just spend laborious hours in the office, escaping out into some fresh air for the day is a treat. And if you can get some exercise in while you’re out in that fresh air, it’s not only adding extra benefits being outside–but we all know it’s way more fun than the treadmill. And my friend, Kat, and I did just that today (yes, on a Friday!) which has inspired this post. We hopped on the train and one hour later, entered an autumnal, foliage heaven called Beacon, New York. After spending the day out in nature and visiting a museum that is only lit with natural sunlight, I felt like a different person.

A few reasons why most of my exercise has been outdoors lately. Studies show that exercising outside boosts optimism, energy and overall mental health more than exercising indoors. It can also be more affordable than joining a gym or going to a yoga class because walking, running, hiking or biking are free–and you don’t need to worry about being on time for a class or even commuting. Being out in nature is also a great way to connect with yourself and the world around you on a deeper level–not all of us have a religion or sit down to meditate for an hour, so connecting with nature can be a spiritual practice too.

Whether it’s for some fun, a good workout, or a way to connect with the beauty around you–exercising outside can be underestimated these days and I love how it’s another way to simplify life and get back to the basics.

If the holiday stress and food, waiting just around the corner, isn’t enough to motivate us to get to class, here’s an extra reminder why yoga can be just what we need during the more stressful, busy times of the year. Just in: a recent study published in Science Daily, conducted by researchers at Boston University School of Medicine found that yoga boosts mood more than other exercises like walking and working out at the gym. Yoga increases the level of gamma-aminobutyric acid in the brain, or GABA, which reduces mood and anxiety disorders. Drugs are usually prescribed for people with low GABA activity, so yoga is just the ticket for someone who suffers chronically or just seasonally (holiday craziness, winter blues, anyone?). It’s most important to take care of ourselves (and sometimes the most difficult) during the more chaotic times.

New Yorkers: to jump start your routine and give you one more incentive to hit the mat, Strala Yoga has teamed up with Daily Candy to offer a huge discount on unlimited classes this month and a three-hour workshop with Tara Stiles, founder of Strala Yoga and Deepak Chopra’s personal instructor.

The most important thing is to enjoy your exercise and find something that works for you–if you’re still searching for your perfect match or just want to mix it up, here are 6 popular yoga styles that are uniquely different and so much fun:

Anusara. Known for its attention on heart-opening and alignment. One of the fastest growing styles of yoga, developed by John Friend, Anusara is a spiritual practice with a strong sense of community. There is a philosophy behind the poses rooted in opening to grace by opening your heart and mind to new possibilities.

Hatha. Yoga teaches us to get in touch with our bodies in a way we might not have before. Hatha is a great place to begin this journey, with a gentle, slow-paced style moving through the different poses. The focus is on holding the poses and integrating your breathing in the movement.

Vinyasa. A more vigorous style of hatha yoga, based on a series of poses called Sun Salutations, in which movement is matched to the breath (vinyasa means breath-syncronized movement). If you’re someone who craves a more active yoga class, this one gets your heart pumping.

Ashtanga. An intense, flow-style yoga with a set series of eight poses–much like Power Yoga, a style inspired by Ashtanga. Get ready for a more athletic approach where you’ll sweat and feel like you ran a marathon.

Kundalini. While an emphasis on controlling the breath is part of all yoga practices, Kundalini explores it more deeply with a focus on balancing energy in the body. Chanting and meditation is integrated, making Kundalini a more spiritual and mental practice, to develop intuition and foster creativity.

Bikram. Hot yoga with a room temperature  of up to 105 degrees F, to loosen tight muscles and sweat, which can be tremendously cleansing. One word of caution: dehydration. Most of us don’t get enough water in our daily routine, so the risk of dehydration in hot yoga is much greater.

We all know that exercise is good for us, but it doesn’t always get us on the mat or to the gym. The challenge is finding exercise that you enjoy most and building it into your life–finding something you can do every day without altering your schedule too much. Exercise can be used to balance your body type and changing moods. Every body is different and goes through different phases—sometimes we feel unfocused, so a more vigorous exercise like running can make us feel stable. Other times, we can feel tight and tense, so exercise like yoga can increase lightness and flexibility. Here, top 10 reasons to actually do the 30-minute a day activity (not counting the awesome afterglow):

Stay young. Workouts as simple as a brisk walk or cycling boost the amount of oxygen consumed during exercise. Improving aerobic capacity by just 15 to 25 percent would be like shaving 10 to 20 years off your age.

Reduce infections. Moderate workouts temporarily rev-up the immune system by increasing the aggressiveness or capacity of immune cells. This might explain why people who exercise catch fewer colds.

Prevent heart attacks. Not only does exercise raise good HDL cholesterol and lower blood pressure and triglycerides, but new research shows it reduces arterial inflammation, another risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.

Ease asthma. New evidence shows that upper-body and breathing exercises can reduce the need to use an inhaler in mild cases of asthma.

Control blood sugar. Exercise helps maintain a healthy blood-sugar level by increasing the cells’ sensitivity to insulin and by controlling weight. Regular brisk walking can significantly cut the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis.

Protect against cancer. Exercise may reduce the risk of colon-cancer by speeding waste through the gut and lowering the insulin level. It may also protect against breast and prostate cancer by regulating hormone levels.

Combat stress. Regular aerobic exercise lowers levels of stress hormones. For many people, exercise helps relieve depression as effectively as antidepressant medication. Studies show just 5 minutes of ‘green exercise’ such as walking, gardening, cycling, fishing, boating, and horse-riding can boost mood and self-esteem.

Relieve hot flashes. Increasing fitness by walking or practicing yoga enhances mood and reduces some menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats.

Prolong life. Long-term studies have consistently shown that being active cuts the risk of premature death by almost 50 percent for men and women.

Improve Sex and Sleep. Saved the best for last—two of our favorite things. Most people feel their best (and sexiest) after a good workout and regular physical activity can lead to enhanced arousal for women. And men are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction. After the romp, you can be sure to sleep better because regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and deepen sleep.