Now that the summer is here, it’s hard to think of training inside. Well guess what?  You don’t have to! There are many ways you can workout without having to train inside.  Here are some examples of how you can train outdoors and get in a workout while having fun.

Kayaking: Targets the core and upper body (shoulders, back, biceps)

Biking:  Targets the legs (quadriceps, hamstrings, calves) and core

Golfing: Targets the upper body (shoulders, biceps, back) and core (including the Obliques) It also  works the

            legs from all the walking

Swimming: This is a low impact exercise that works the whole body

Tennis: Targets the upper body, (shoulders, back, arms) core, (including the obliques) and legs (quadriceps, 

            hamstrings, calves, inner and outer thighs),

Hiking: Targets legs, (quadriceps, hamstrings, calves), back, core and arms if you use hiking poles

Rollerblading: Targets legs (quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, inner and outer thighs), and core

Gardening (Including mowing the lawn): Targets the entire body

Water skiing: Targets the entire body as well as balance!

Powerwalking: Targets the entire body and is very low impact 

Many people are surprised that powerwalking can be considered a form of training.  But it is! Powerwalking burns fat, rids you of stress, improves our self esteem and can help improve your fitness level. It is also a low impact form of exercise. If you suffer from sports injuries or find high impact exercising difficult, powerwalking is the perfect alternative because it reduces stress absorbed by your body. It can actually be more beneficial to your body than running! 

So now that you have some ideas as to how you can exercise outdoors, get out there and train. The world is an open gym. 

3 Tips on how to start running

I came across this article after a week of having several of my clients ask me if they can run.  My answer? Yes! Here are 3 tips from another runner who shares how she started to incorporate running into her every day routine.

I can’t stress enough how beneficial it is mentally, physically and spiritually. All-around fitness is my personal preference, and I’m not a hard-core runner, but I do believe that some amount of running can be beneficial and life changing for everyone. With time and experience you'll ease into it and see what works best for you. Although there's no magic formula for learning how to run, there are three important things to keep in mind when starting out.

1. Drop the limiting belief that you can’t run.

In my opinion, this is the most important thing anyone can do before starting to run. If you're someone who subscribes to the “I can’t run!” theory, you’ve got to know and believe right now that it’s not true. I hear this all the time, and as someone who used to be president of the “I can’t run" club, I can justifiably give you a little tough love here. Yes, you can run, and saying you can't is an excuse (unless you have a medical condition, of course). You’ve got to drop the limiting belief or you'll be right: you can’t do it. Remember, your beliefs create your reality.

2. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

When I started increasing my mileage, it was anything but easy. I had to experience some pain and discomfort to get there. "No pain, no gain" was my mantra when I was building my level of fitness. It’s important to know that people you see running long distances didn’t just get there overnight, as you may believe. They pushed through tough workouts to be able to do what they do today. If you stop right when it starts to feel tough and uncomfortable, you'll never get better. I always think about it metaphorically: in life there's always some kind of pain experienced during growth. If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.

3. Run even when you're not in the mood.

I know this one all too well. The hardest part of the run can be putting on your sneakers and getting out the door. It's amazing how sometimes running is the last thing you want to do, but once you get out there, you enjoy it and completely forget about how much you didn’t want to.

Running is one of those rare things that has the ability to change a bad mood to a good one just by doing it. It only takes a few minutes to switch from the “I don’t want to” to the “I’m so glad I did it” mindset. Fight the inner lazy battle and get out there!