The role of the senses in outdoor exercise

What is it about?

This article contributes to a developing body of work on the senses and the sensory dimension, by examing the lived experience of organised physical activities in ‘natural’ outdoor leisure environments. We draw upon the findings from a two-year ethnographic study of a Welsh national physical activity programme, entitled ‘Mentro Allan/Venture Out’, which aimed to increase physical activity levels amongst specific ‘target groups’. Based on fieldwork and on interviews (n = 68) with Programme participants, in this paper, we consider specifically the senses of sight and touch in organised outdoor leisure activities, including experiences of ‘intense embodiment’.

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