In the summer months it’s great to take our workout outdoors.  Not only is fresh air and sunshine good for us, but people who workout outside find the exercise more pleasurable—that makes you more likely to do it and often do it longer.  As an added bonus it can be a way to get variety in your workout.  The body really responds to variety.  So use the warmer seasons to try some of these moves:

Access to a Tree:

Using a strong branch try some pulls ups.

Do a “wall sit” against the trunk

Access to a Rounded Curb:

Walk back and forth as a balance routine.

Use the curb as a heel lift to work on deep squats with heel support

With toes on the curb, do actual heel lifts.

Cardio toe taps

One leg on the curb, bend that knee to tap the other foot to the ground keeping hips level

Access to Rocks:

Grab two rocks you can hold in your hand—round or flat, but you can grip them securely.  Then use them like you would any free weights. You’ll be adding more grip strength and forearms strength.  And the lopsided nature of a random rock will create some imbalances that help challenge your stabilizer muscles

Examples of moves would be: bicep curls, triceps, shoulder raises, arm extended standing oblique twists

Access to Logs:

Walk around with two logs like a farmers carry.  Once again you’ll be using grip strength

Do inverted push ups (here the log is your friend)

Access to a Park Bench:

Make sure the park bench is secure, won’t tip over on you, and can hold your body weight.  If it’s made of wooden slats, look for a newer bench or ensure you put your weight where metal runs underneath for support.

Try triceps dips, inverted push ups, step ups, angled plank leg raises, single leg get ups from a seated position in the bench.

Remember the goal is to bring a unique challenge to your workout, add some variety, but also be fun.  Find the playfulness in the workout.

Click here to watch Maggie share some ways to workout in the wild on NBC CT Live!