Are you dreading the stuffy gym now that the weather is getting nice? Are you out of town with no access to a gym? There are many reasons you may need to get a good workout in outside the gym and thankfully, there are plenty of ways to do just that! Keep reading to learn 5 ways you can take your workout outside the gym. 

Go to the beach

When the sun is hot and you need a break from the gym scene the beach is the perfect place to escape to. After all, who doesn’t want a beach day? Hit the shoreline by yourself or with friends and get a quality workout in while spending time with friends and having fun.

Both sand and water provide excellent resistance for working out. Run down the beach or climb sand hills to get a killer cardio workout with loads of resistance. When the heat becomes too much, take your workout to the water. Swimming is an incredible workout. If you have a standing paddle board, a kayak, or a canoe you can get a great upper body workout as well.

If you’re at the beach with friends and don’t want to be the weirdo running sprints in the sand while everyone else gawks at you, start up a game of beach volleyball or football. Everyone loves a little competitive fun and you can work up a sweat while hanging out with friends.

Go to the park 

Local parks can be a great place to get in some quality exercise. There are usually paths you can run for cardio. You can use benches for triceps dips, elevated push-ups, or even step-ups. Not to mention, there’s a surplus of space to do other calisthenics workouts. High-knees, burpees, sit-ups, etc can all be done in a park.

Fitness groups often meet in parks as well. Find your community website and find out if there are any groups meeting near you. This is a great way to enjoy the weather, get a workout, and meet new people. You might even try new forms of exercise or find different ways to do exercises you already know, which is great for changing things up and keeping working out from getting boring!

Go outside your house

You don’t even have to travel further than outside your front door to workout outside. Most workouts that you can do inside or at the park can be done right in your yard. Take a yoga mat outside and enjoy the breeze and fresh air. You can even take weights outside to do some resistance training.

You can even get a workout in your yard while doing chores. Nice weather calls for yard work and if you’ve ever done a day of yard work you KNOW it’s a workout! Rake leaves, weed the garden, and plant flowers. This way you get a beautiful yard and a good day’s workout.

Spend time with your dog

We could all use some quality time with our puppies. If you don’t have one, borrow a friend’s! Dogs seem to have a never-ending source of energy and you can harness that energy to give you an outside workout. Running with my dog helps run harder and longer. When I want to give in and slow to a walk he pushes me to keep going. And I wouldn’t dare disappoint my pup!

Running isn’t the only workout you can get from hanging out with a dog. If it’s anything like mine, tug-o-war is a must! Trying to wrestle a toy from the tight grip of my dog can get me feeling the burn in my arms, chest, and back. My rambunctious pooch keeps me moving and sweating trying to keep up with him.

Competition

Sports! Sports are active and fun ways to get outside and move. Whether you join a softball league or just invite some friends over to play basketball, you’ll be torching the calories all the while having fun and enjoying the company of others. Make a weekly game of baseball or football and relive those glory days of competing in high school sports.

If you don’t have or want a group of people, challenge yourself. Try to beat your personal best time for sprints or swimming laps. Competition is a great way to stay motivated and make your workout exciting. And the best part is you can compete against others, or you compete against yourself.

There are so many ways to get active outside the gym. Get creative and get moving! The gym can be great, but sometimes a change of scenery is much needed. Enjoy the nice days and get outside without sacrificing your workout by using these tips. Stay active, my friends!