If you’re like many people, chances are that you sometimes want to exercise outside when the weather is nice. But if you’re used to working out in a gym or in an otherwise-structured environment, you might not know where to start. Exercising outdoors can be invigorating and give you a break from the gym environment, so if you’re ready to mix up your workout routine a bit, read on to discover a few fun ways to start exercising outdoors.
Get Some Friends Together for Recess
You might remember freeze tag, keep away, and pickup basketball from recess as a child. But as an adult, you can get your friends in a group and play. While it might seem less structured than many workouts, some games – like tag or keep away – involve high-intensity sprints that work much like HIIT workouts. If you have enough people and also have access to a park or other open space, this can be an unorthodox way to get a good workout in while enjoying the outdoors.
Go for a Walk or a Run
It may sound simple, but even going for a walk outdoors can boost your mood and give you a break from your day-to-day life. While running may provide more vigorous exercise, walking has numerous health benefits and is accessible to most people, even those who don’t have a high level of fitness.
If you want to enjoy the outdoors farther away from everyday life, find some trails near you. Many parks have walking or running trails, and aside from providing more challenging terrain, these trails are often quieter than most roads. Some areas may even have paved trails, which can be a good choice for those who want to avoid difficult terrain.
Make Use of Stadium Stairs
If you live near an outdoor stadium you can access for free, the stairs can provide a challenging outdoor exercise. Many people don’t necessarily enjoy running stairs, but running them outside can make it a bit more interesting. To get the full fitness benefit of outdoor stairs, you don’t have to limit yourself to running up (and down) the stairs. You can also practice plyometric box jumps by jumping up onto the stairs above you. You can even use the stairs to do incline pushups, and if the stadium is near a track, you can superset stair exercises with laps around the track to get some extra cardio.
Go for a Bike Ride
Cycling is an excellent workout, and one advantage it has is keeping you at least somewhat cool when it’s hot outside. It’s also a very versatile sport, so you can choose to take up road biking, mountain biking, or even BMX. Of course, if you just want to relax and be outside without having to necessarily train in cycling as a sport, you can even go for a neighborhood bike ride. If your bike can handle trails, you may want to find some local trails for a challenging exercise experience.
Swim in a Pool or in Open Water
Swimming is an exercise that works nearly every muscle in the body, and it especially helps with core stabilization. If you live near an outdoor pool, the combination of the water and the outside air can be very pleasant. Alternatively, you can get a group together and play water polo, which can provide a challenging workout while still being a fun recreational activity. Open water swimming is also great exercise, although it’s important to make sure there’s a lifeguard on duty. If you haven’t swum in open water before, you might find sighting, or looking up over the water to make sure you’re staying in a straight line, to be difficult. It takes some getting used to.
Kayaking or Canoeing
If you like the workout rowing gives you but are sick of sitting on your gym’s rowing machine, kayaking or canoeing outside is a great way to get a similar workout while enjoying scenery and fresh air. If you live near a lake or river, chances are good that canoe or kayak rentals are available, and these rentals are generally very affordable. And since you can do this alone or with other people, it can be a solitary and meditative experience or a memorable group outing, depending on what you would prefer.
Exercise on the Beach
Many people enjoy relaxed, lazy beach days with a book or some music. And while a relaxing day can absolutely be restorative, you can also use the beach as your gym. Running in sand is significantly harder than running on a flat surface, but it’s also a little easier on your bones than continually pounding the pavement. You can do more than run, though – beach volleyball with friends is a great way to unwind while also getting good exercises. And surfing, ocean swimming, and ocean kayaking are all fun, if challenging, exercises you can do while at the beach. Plus, once you’re done with your workout, lying in the sun can relax and warm your muscles, much like a sauna.
Play Pickup Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, or Kickball
A number of sports are played outside, and if you’re the type of person who prefers a team effort to solitary workouts, pickup sports can be a fun way to socialize and get an excellent workout at the same time. The competitive aspect is likely to push you to try harder, too. If you don’t know many people, look for adult leagues. Many cities have recreational soccer, kickball, and other leagues for adults. While some are very competitive, others are casual and designed to encourage socializing.
If you’re starting to get tired of your current exercise routine – or if you’re looking to start one – exercising outside is an excellent place to begin. By branching out and being creative, you’ll develop new strengths, become better rounded, and maybe even discover a new hobby.
