Working out outdoors can be a lot of fun and a great way to break up your routine if you are used to working indoors at a gym or in your home. Find a park, particularly one with a playground that has monkey bars, swings, picnic tables, etc. There are a variety of exercises that you can do with what's in a park/playground.
Here are some exercises that can be done:
Walking lunges - You'll have plenty of room to do several reps of walking lunges. Remember to keep good form!
Sprint - You can combine sprints with your walking lunges or do them separately.
Pull-ups - Utilize those monkey bars by doing pull-ups.
Dips - If there are dip bars in your park, you can get in a good tricep workout.
Swing lunges - Place one foot in a swing and get into the lunge position. Do about 10 reps for each leg.
Swing push-ups - Place both feet into the swing and get into the push-up position. You can also add in a jack knife move by bringing your knees in after each push-up.
Step-ups - Find a bench and perform step-ups for each leg.
There are probably tons of exercises you could come up with on your own just utilizing the equipment in a playground. Below are links to other resources to help you generate more ideas.
Men's Health Playground Workout
Playground Workouts on YouTube
For those of you who want even more of a challenge, check out this Bar-Barians requirements video. All done in the park:
- 40 dips
- 20 pull-ups
- 50 push-ups
- 5 muscle-ups
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
yes! Get outside, while it’s still summer….
I agree with you, Bonnie!
I made the most progress strength wise when I started doing pull ups. You cant beat them for upper body strength. They also ensure you maintain a healthy balance. Lets be right most people just stick to bench press, incorporate pull ups and you’ll feel the benefit.
If you can’t do pull ups try the easier chin up to get started. Either way get out there and start swinging on bars….
Definitely, Tom. If people can’t get outdoors for pull-ups, the indoor pull-up bars make it convenient to do them at home.
I love working out at a playground (when the weather permits, that is, hehe)! Before I had a pull up apparatus in my home gym, I worked out at a playground near my home a lot.
I’ve never of the “swing push-up” before this, though. Very creative!
Those muscle ups in the video are also really killer. Advanced exercisers who have never heard of them before should definitely try them out!