Summer exercise ideas aren’t just a matter of considering what is possible during warmer weather. They also frequently involve what you’ll actually want to do. Spring and fall give you mild weather in which you’ll want to get out and move around. However, when you’re facing the dead-heat of the sun on the hottest days of the year, many of us just want to sprawl out with a cold drink and wait for the air conditioner to turn on again.
The best summer exercise ideas are the ones that will simultaneously keep you active and cool. Sounds like a contradiction in terms when you’re trying to move around to burn fat. On the hottest days, just the thought of moving an inch can feel like it’s asking too much. Fortunately, there are still some fantastic ways to keep moving, keep up with your physical activity, and yet stay cool enough at the same time.
Whether you love flowers, vegetables or can’t get enough of your fruit trees, gardening can be extremely therapeutic. Many gardeners would compare this more to meditation than cardio among summer exercise ideas. Still, gardening requires quite a bit of lifting and bending. Though it’s easy to overdo it and end up with sore muscles and joints – or to overheat in the summertime – when done strategically, it’s the perfect activity.
Bend from the knees and waist instead of your back. Use a kneeling pad to encourage yourself to kneel down instead of crouching all the time. Do your gardening before the sun comes around to the containers or garden bed you’re working on. That way, you can enjoy the coolness of the shade and still get your arm, leg and ab workout done with your weeding and watering.
Get a full body cardio workout done while keeping perfectly cool by going swimming. A local pool (or your own if you’re very lucky), lake, river, or oceanside beach is the perfect opportunity to use the water to get a full workout without overheating. If you don’t know how to swim, sign up for lessons!
Walking is a wonderful summer exercise idea. Moreover, if you get the habit set in the summertime, you’re more likely to keep it up for the rest of the year, too. Head out early in the day before the heat has the chance to get to its warmest. Going early means you can often take advantage of some shade on the sidewalk, too, before the sun gets too high. If you’re not a morning walker, heading out in the evening when the shade returns and the day starts to cool can also be a great way to get active and wind down after the day, too.
Heading out and doing your own paddling is a great way to keep cool on hot days while giving your upper body a workout. Bring the workout into your core while preventing injury by sitting with your spine in a neutral position and keeping your core muscles adequately engaged.
Sometimes the best summer exercise ideas are the ones that help you to slow down and calm your mind. These may not burn the most calories and stored fats, but when combined with the above exercises as a part of your weekly routine, meditation can help you to control stress and sleep better. These are both important factors for keeping healthy and controlling weight, among other benefits.