4 Outdoor Fitness Activities to Try if You're Worried About Returning to the Gym

Outdoor Fitness Activities fitness routie exercises gym and gym memberships rope courses playground fitness playground equipment Dr. Marc Tinsley Beach Running or Jogging core muscles archery upper body full workout Bulgarian Split Squat

By Lili Scott , Parent Herald Feb 23, 05:32 am

Photo: (Photo : ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images )

Are you looking to boost your fitness routine without going back to the gym? If you're still not comfortable working out indoors, you can try some outdoor fitness activities to stay fit and healthy.

Before the popularity of gym and gym memberships, the outdoors served as the playground and workout space for kids and adults alike. The green fields or the beaches offer everything, including mindful pursuits, that can help you build a good exercise routine.

Here are four outdoor fitness activities to try if going back to the gym is still not part of your plan in the new normal.

1. Rope Courses

Rope courses may have started as team-building activities, but they can be a challenging outdoor fitness workout for individuals. According to Dr. Marc Tinsley, rope courses take that mindset off aligning "fitness" with "gym or equipment."

"I tell people to think 'outside the barbell,'" he said via Terrapin Adventures.

The wonderful thing about rope courses is that you won't realize you're working out or building your upper body's core and strength because the courses are fun and flexible, while still challenging. It's also more fun to do rope courses as a group, and since you're surrounded by plenty of trees, this outdoor fitness activity is also good for mental health stimulation.

2. Beach Running or Jogging

If running or jogging does not challenge you enough, you can try running at the beach to supercharge your outdoor fitness activities and give your leg muscles a really good workout.

Compared to running on pavements, the sand can fully engage but stabilize your muscles since the surface is uneven. This will help build up your form and balance naturally. At the same time, you increase the calories you burn and work up your heart because your muscles are working harder.

3. Archery

Archery is a cool sport that gives your arms and upper body a complete workout. It may be comparable to lifting weights at the gym, which can build up your muscles in the arms and shoulder area.

However, archery also improves your focus and hand-eye coordination, developing your ability to handle high-pressure situations, especially at work. The sport is also a confidence booster even if you don't plan to compete in tournaments.

4. Playground Fitness

Parents who bring their kids to the playground might not realize it, but there is plenty of fitness equipment right there, such as the slide, the monkey bars, and the park benches.

You can use the slide's base to do push-ups and the monkey bars to ton and strengthen your upper body. On the other hand, the benches are great for elevated push-ups or the Bulgarian Split Squat.

So, the next time you bring your kids to the playground, sneak in a 30-minute workout while they're busy with their playmates. You could also let your children join as you exercise and make this a regular family playground activity.