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 If
you've been thinking about starting an exercise program but you're not
into the health club scene, then an outdoor exercise program may be
the solution to get you up and moving. In fact, more than twice as
many Americans exercise outdoors than in health clubs.
Exercising outdoors offers benefits to both the body
and the mind. Being outdoors for most people who are indoors all day
is exhilarating and refreshing, and it offers a good alternative to
fighting traffic, crowds and noise at local health clubs. The great
outdoors, in fact, has many tools you can use to get in shape with
little, if any, equipment needed.
Scope out your neighborhood. Are you near parks,
beaches, schools or tennis courts? Many parks have walking, jogging
and bike trails you can use for cardiovascular exercises. Benches,
picnic tables, buildings and open fields are useful for simple weight
training exercises such as dips, pushups, walking lunges, medicine
ball throws, calisthenics and stretching. A few sessions with a
personal trainer should provide you with the ideas and proper
technique for these exercises.
Beaches also are great tools for outdoor exercising.
Take a walk or jog in the morning and cool off with a dip in the
ocean. Join in weekend beach volleyball games with locals. Almost
every neighborhood has a school with a track field, basketball court,
tennis court or football stadium. All are great tools for exercising.
Organize a group for a basketball game on weekends or
play a few games of tennis with friends. Many tennis courts have
backboards where you can practice without a partner. There is plenty
of open space on a football field for calisthenics, walking lunges, or
just throwing a football back and forth with a friend. If you have
access to a pool, swimming is a great exercise for the mind and body.
Remember, you aren't limited to a gym or health club
if you want to get in shape. In fact, the outdoors couldn't be a
better environment to exercise the body and mind. With motivation,
discipline and creativity you can design your own outdoor exercising
program starting today and be in shape by the time summer begins. If
necessary, get started with a personal trainer in your neighborhood or
find a buddy to join in on the fun. Good luck!
Karen Martin is a National Council of Strength &
Fitness Certified Personal Trainer and USPTR Certified Tennis
Professional. She operates BodyDesign private personal training studio
for women in Coconut Grove. Martin offers outdoor programs including
walking, jogging, biking, tennis and body sculpting activities at
nearby parks. For more information, please call 305-854-4038 or email Kmsporty@aol.com.
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