Go Outside and Play!!

We all remember the days when we were kids running around the house being loud and having our parents say,"Go outside and play!" just to get us out of their hair! Well even as adults we need to get outside and get some fresh air. Summer is approaching and it's the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors. Here are a few exercises you can do anytime you're outdoors whether you're at a park, in your backyard or just hanging out with family.
LUNGES- I know! I know! Most hate these things BUT....they're excellent for your legs and glute (buttocks)area. Some variations could be walking lunges, stationary lunges(lunges without moving forward) and even rear lunges (lunge backwards).
STEP UPS- Again, another great exercise for legs. Find a patio chair, park bench, step or anything else stable that you can step up onto. You simply step up onto the surface and back down. You can repeat the same leg for a number or reps that you choose or you could alternate legs for your number of reps. This is a great leg exercise and you will definitely feel it!
PUSH UPS- These can be done in a soft or grassy area. Or if you're prepared and brought a mat, then use it! Push ups can be done from the knees or on the toes depending on your ability. Some variations would be standard(hands shoulder width apart), wide hand placement(hands placed beyond shoulder width) and narrow hand placement(hands almost touching and directly under chest). Standard hand placement targets shoulders, wide targets chest and narrow is for triceps. Elevating your hands on a surface such as a bench or a wall makes it a bit easier, while elevating feet on something will make it more difficult. So play around and see what you can do!
CARDIOVASCULAR- Take a walk. Simple yet effective. Not a leisurely stroll but a nice quick pace to get your blood pumping! Or if you really want a challenge....how about some sprinting? Find a nice flat area and take off! Short sprint intervals repeated several times should get the heart rate going! Another challenging exercise if you're up to it is hill sprints. Since you're outside you should be able to find a nice hill that will challenge your cardiovascular state. If you think you're up for it, find a steep hill. Not so sure? A gentle slope is fine. Sprint up the hill pumping your arms as fast as you can. Then a nice easy jog back down to recouperate. Repeat this sequence as much as you can handle.

So, bottom line.....get outside and play!