Once the weather starts to warm up, everyone is eager to get back outside. The extra daylight is the perfect motivator to take a walk or swim down at the beach. However, that means trails and lakes can start to get pretty crowded. If you’re looking for a relaxing place to exercise, finding a different way to move your body this season might interest you.
Do you need some new ideas for outdoor activities? Here are eleven unique ways to start your fitness journey this summer!
The Importance of Fitness
At all ages, getting outside and exercising is essential. Throughout your life, a good fitness routine will help lessen your chances of:
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Mood and sleep disorders
Your body will start to reduce muscle mass around age 30. Aches and pains might also begin to be more noticeable by 50. Before this happens, forming a solid exercise routine will be beneficial. It can mitigate the impacts of muscle loss and strengthen your bones. If you need a new way to get fit, this summer is the perfect time to find new activities to keep you moving.
Fitness can also be a very social activity. Whether you get a group of friends to join or make new ones at a class, getting together to exercise can be motivational and connecting. You could take large group, small group or one-on-one lessons. Whichever you choose, having someone else there to help you may help you feel more confident.
Exercise is excellent for your mental health as well. Researchers found that physical activity could be an additional solution to depression. For those looking to see improvements along with medication, getting outside and moving may be great advice. However, if you want to decrease your prescription, always speak with your practitioner first. They will most likely want to see how exercise affects your mental health over a while before they make any changes to your treatment regimen.
Summer Exercise Tips
There are plenty of fun ways to be active inside and outside during summer. Here are some summer exercise ideas for those beginning exercise routines and fitness experts!
- Surfing
Surfing is a great way to see the ocean and get fit. Whether renting your first board or catching your 500th wave, surfing engages your body and encourages balance. It’s a full-body workout, giving you plenty of benefits. It may have a learning curve for those starting out, but let yourself take the time to experience it. Taking up a new practice could also positively affect your mental and physical health.
- Bicycling
There are multiple ways to bike, so you can choose based on your experience level and preference. You could take different paths or find a beautiful route through town. Maybe you’re interested in training for a race or marathon. There’s also mountain biking, which can provide you with some gorgeous views while performing high-intensity exercise. Along with protective gear, cycling is phenomenal for your health.
- Gardening
Gardening can be a fantastic exercise and mindfulness practice. As you’re working with the soil, take note of how everything feels and the sounds around you. Feeling at peace with nature and yourself can center you and help you relax. Additionally, shoveling, planting and harvesting your garden’s products can be a perfect workout. Pay attention to how you’re lifting and how much. Doing so will prevent strain, so you can keep getting out to your garden.
- Practicing Yoga
Indoors or outdoors, all you need is a blanket to sit on. You could even forego that if the ground is comfortable enough. Some may prefer to practice in their home, where they can minimize extra noise. Others could find focusing outdoors helps them manage their busy lives more peacefully. However you practice, yoga is a wonderful experience for the body and mind. This summer, give it a try if you need a new way to increase your flexibility and muscle strength.
- Creating a Boot Camp With Friends
Maybe you’ve seen a boot camp in your local park or gym. While trying something new is always good, you may have been slightly intimidated by its intensity. Instead of abandoning the idea entirely, create one with some friends. Being surrounded by people you know can help you feel more relaxed. If you need something less harsh, you can customize your workouts to the group. Making your own boot camp could be a great physical and bonding activity.
- Jumping Rope
Bring things back to your childhood days with some jump rope. You could keep your workout to a regular jump rope routine, or find a more intensive video or written plan. If you want to truly throw it back, you and some friends could pick up double dutch again. While it might seem childish to you, jumping rope is an excellent cardio exercise that can also improve balance and bone health as you practice.
- Cleaning the House
A two-in-one chore — exercising and tidying your house. Could your spring cleaning use a summer refresh? See it as an opportunity to get in some physical activity. Vacuuming, dusting and washing can all be awesome workouts that involve your whole body. Find ways to make these jobs more complete, such as:
- Switching arms so both get some activity
- Taking time to stretch between tasks
- Lightly jogging while moving about the house
Get your body and your house in shape by combining cleaning and exercise.
- Kayaking
Take your family, friends, or just yourself out to the lake and rent a kayak. Along with the lovely sights, you’ll quickly see how this could be your new favorite workout. Using the oars to steer and push yourself along the water requires a lot of work from your arms. In addition, turning your upper body to get the proper position will do plenty for your core. Try out boating along the water in a kayak this summer to get in some vigorous physical activity.
- Finding a Trail
It could be any kind of trail. You might choose to go hiking, running or walking on a path outside. Trails can be as relaxing or intense as you want. It may be nice to bring some friends or go by yourself to experience nature. You could even take your cat or dog on a leash to provide an arm workout. Remember to stay hydrated, and check in with your body and others — especially if you’re going alone.
- Playing a Sport
There are plenty of team and solo sports to choose from when beginning your exercise regimen. You can find soccer, basketball, softball or tennis teams depending on your experience. Different leagues will accommodate different levels of skill. If you’re looking for solo sports, you could pick up dancing, swimming or roller skating to get your physical activity in. This all depends on your comfort level, so decide if you’d prefer to play a sport with others or by yourself. Whatever you pick, you’ll be doing yourself a favor.
- Going Rock Climbing
This is another fantastic indoor and outdoor activity. Going to your local rock-climbing wall is a terrific way to get started. Those helping you climb can give you tips on the best ways to get the most out of your climb. Once you’ve had a lot of practice, you could start learning how to climb out in the wilderness. This could blossom into a fulfilling group or even solo activity. If you’re looking for new ways to get outside, rock climbing might become your new passion.
