Tips for exercising outdoors

Tips for exercising outdoors
By: Marissa Anteby

Want to get the therapeutic benefits of a relaxing European sea side respite without the aggravation and expense of having to pack up and travel to a far-flung destination? You’re in luck. There are plenty of great life-enhancing activities to enjoy right in your neighborhood. Follow these tips and you’ll feel rejuvenated and renewed, without the slightest chance of jet-lag!

1- Go for an early morning swim.
Don’t to worry if you don’t have a pool. Tap in to your network of friends, or visit a local community center or beach club.
- Enhance this experience by swimming laps or trying out a few different strokes.
- Slow down and take your time, really feeling how the water lifts your body and your spirits.
- Float for a while and make believe your worries and cares flow down your back and drip off your fingertips.

2- Bike ride around town.
Ride for a little bit at a comfortable pace. Then ramp up your exertion by pedaling super fast for 30 seconds. Repeat this 3 times, with a 1 minute recovery in between the sprinting intervals.
- Get all techie and rent or buy a heart rate monitor to track your cardio output.
- Look for roads that can offer you varied terrain. The journey will be more interesting if there are periods of uphills, downhills, and flat runs.
- Add a few lemon or orange slices to your water bottle before you fill it. Sipping flavored water as you cycle, will not only keep you hydrated, it will pep up your energy.

3- Take a hike.
More power to you, if you search the internet for some local trails and head out with some friends for a camping trip.
- Otherwise, any walking you do will be beneficial. Point your feet towards the boardwalk, put one foot in front of the other, and keep going till you’ve had enough.
- Be aware of your alignment. Strike the ground with your heel first, then roll all the way through to the ball of your foot.
- Check out fitness footwear with technology built in that encourages this gait pattern. Here’s some foot gear suggestions: 'M Walk' shoes by MBT, us.mbt.com, 'Easy Tone' sneakers by Reebok, reebok.com, 'Rebel' flip flops by FitFlop, fitflop.com.

4- Get all starry eyed.
Star gazing is free, just as most natural marveling is! So, why not take the time to step outside at night and look up in to the heavens?
- Choose a few quiet nights when the evening air is calm, and relax on your front porch or lawn, with your eyes upward bound.
- If you enjoy writing, the blanket of stars may be the perfect backdrop for your creative genius to overflow in a poem or journal entry. Have a notebook handy and start with a few words that pop in to your mind.
- Or for a super inspirational spectacle, go view a fireworks show.

Whatever you choose to do, remember to slow down and add some alone time in to your hectic schedule. The summer has a way of flying by, so try to get outside and appreciate the warm weather while you can. Whether you find yourself bird watching in a park, or braving the waves on a boogie board at the beach, get outside and have fun, and be thankful for all the natural wonders right in your own back yard!

marissa@embodyinc.com
www.embodyinc.com