Outdoor Workouts – Why It’s Time to Take Your Workouts Outside

Posted On Jul 30, 2018 By Tom Holland

Outdoor workouts – why it’s time to take your workouts outside. Woman outside with BowFlex SelectTech Dumbbells.

Summer. It’s all about beaches, barbeques and, yes, bringing your workouts outside. Remember that one of the keys to exercise success is variation, mixing up your routine to keep you motivated and your body challenged. Let’s face it: Doing the same workout over and over can get really boring after a while.

So, to freshen up that winter workout routine, consider taking it outside into the fresh summer air. One simple yet fun way to do so is to bring your SelectTechs outside for your strength workout, doing your own private “backyard boot camp.” Simply changing the environment in which you exercise can breathe new life into your existing routine.

If you normally do the TreadClimber, mix it up by alternating your indoor workouts with walks outside as well. Go out in your neighborhood, in a park, on soft trails in in the woods and explore interesting new places. Research has shown that when you exercise outdoors you are more likely to go longer and enjoy it more.

Finally, consider making your own outdoor summer circuit workout. You don’t need any equipment, you can mix cardio and strength moves together for a really powerful workout, and you can include family and friends. Here’s a great circuit to get you started:

  1. 5 Minutes Warm-Up

    Get the blood flowing with a simple dynamic cardio warm-up on the grass, doing 10 yards up-and-back of the following: Butt kicks, high knees, side shuffle, karaoke and running backwards. It’s not a race: Go slowly and focus on your form.

  2. 5 Minutes of Sprints

    Sprint the same 10 yards, walk back to recover, then repeat. Start at half speed and go a little faster with each consecutive sprint. Your last few should be all-out and challenging.

  3. 5 Minutes Strength Stations

    Perform 5 strength moves for 30 seconds each, two times through, with little to no rest in between. Do a mix of upper body, lower body and core moves. A great example would be push-ups, squats, plank, walking lunges and bicycle crunches.

  4. 5 Minutes Cool-Down and Stretch

    Spend the final five minutes stretching all your major muscle groups.