Fitness

Get Ready for Summer - Best Outdoor Exercise Ideas

Get Ready for Summer - Best Outdoor Exercise Ideas

Over the last year, many people have trended away from gyms and exercise classes instead opting to workout at home or outside. With ongoing COVID-19 precautions and the return of long, warm days, the next few months are ideal for outdoor workouts. 


Yet, it can be easy to fall into a rut when exercising outdoors--it’s tempting to just default to a fallback workout, perhaps a 3 mile run, and to just do that over and over again. This can make outdoor exercise seem tedious, making it harder to stay motivated and committed to your fitness. 


To help you stay motivated, meet your fitness goals, and get the most out of your workouts, here are a few outdoor exercise ideas to try in the coming months.


Use an Audio Trainer

One great way to make sure that you’re constantly pushing yourself, changing up your workouts and staying motivated is with an audio trainer. It’s a way to get a good outdoor workout without needing a screen. And, the good news is that there are a lot of great apps and programs out there that offer a variety of outdoor workouts including running, yoga, strength, pilates, and biking. 


Using one of these trainers makes it easier to stick with a program. You don’t have to think about what workout to do every day or come up with a plan. Instead, you just join a program and get a trainer in your ear telling you exactly what to do next. 


It’s an easy and fun way to up your intensity and to add variety to your workouts. Although there are lots of programs available, Aaptiv, which offers lots of different workouts at varying levels, is a good place to start. 


Hit the Trail

Whether you’re a runner or a walker, mixing up your workouts with some trail runs or hikes is a great way to stay motivated. Running can get monotonous if you do the same course over and over again, which may eventually lead to avoidance of or boredom with your routine.. 


Mix things up by finding trails nearby to explore. Not only will this help you enjoy your workout, but it also will add some intensity with the ups and downs that come with trails. Finally, the extra beauty and exposure to nature will make the run all the more relaxing. It’s a good way to reduce stress, add a little extra intensity, and make your workout more enjoyable. 


Take Advantage of Your Local Park or Playground

Rather than just running by your local park or playground, take advantage of the equipment there to do a full-body workout. There are lots of workouts you can put together in a local park including pull-ups on the monkey bars, elevated lunges using a park bench, bench dips, jump squats, and step-ups. 


Plus, if you have a park that’s only a short jog away, you can use that run to warm-up and cool-down, with a full-body circuit in between. 


Don’t Forget about Water Sports

It’s easy to overlook water activities when thinking about your regular fitness plan, but if you have access to a lake, pool, river, or ocean, there are a number of water sports that can help you stay more active, work different muscles, and add variety to your routine. 


Kayaking and paddle boarding both provide a good upper body and core workout, and paddle boarding has the added bonus of helping with balance and working the legs. Swimming also provides a full-body workout and is especially good for individuals with injuries or that want to avoid impact workouts. 


Besides working different muscle groups and providing a good workout, getting out on the water, no matter what type of exercise you’re doing, can be a great way to relax and reduce stress, which is an added bonus to this type of fitness. 


Find an Outdoor Class 

If you’re wanting to workout outside but missing your exercise class, there might be a way to get the best of both worlds. A number of trainers, coaches, community centers, and gyms have started offering outdoor classes. 


Finding an outdoor class nearby can be a good way to stay motivated. Just because you don’t want to go to the gym doesn’t mean you can’t participate in classes, so spend some time searching in your area for an outdoor class that works for you. 


Incorporate More Walking 

It’s tempting to forget about walking when you’re making up a fitness plan, but walking at a brisk pace for 30 minutes is a good way to promote a healthy lifestyle, prevent disease, and maintain a healthy weight. 


So, if you’re feeling unmotivated or not up for your regular run, don’t get discouraged or sedentary. Instead, add a few walks into your weekly routine. 


It might not help you meet all of your fitness goals, but it will keep you moving, serve as a good supplement to other workouts, and offer a change of pace (no pun intended).  


Conclusion

With the summer months ahead, ample opportunity exists to get outdoors and exercise. But, as you do, make sure that you mix things up so that you’ll stick with your fitness routine while getting the most out of it and enjoying it. 


As you plan for your upcoming workouts, getting some new gear can be a great way to add a little extra motivation. Check out Crazy Compression’s best sellers to get some new socks that will not only add style to your workout but also have the added benefit of improving circulation and supporting muscle recovery.

Reading next

8 Tips for Getting in Shape for Summer
Summer 2021: Self-Care Tips

Leave a comment

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.