Exercises to Do in a Park

Not all hard bodies are built in a gym. When a gym is unavailable to you or you simply don't have the cash to join one, opt for outdoor workouts to get in shape. A park has all the equipment you will need in order to get an efficient workout. Using your own body weight as resistance paired with a few park essentials can help you to achieve a fit and toned body.

  1. Benches

    • Benches are are a great tool for outdoor fitness because you can use them in a variety of ways to tone your entire body. Ramp up your heart rate and tone your lower body by using a bench to perform bench jumps. You can also use a bench for step-ups or one leg squats to strengthen your lower body. Work on your upper body by using the bench for triceps dips and decline push-ups.

    Monkey Bars

    • Monkey bars are the ideal piece of equipment for pull-ups or chin-ups. Even if you have not built up enough strength to perform a complete pull-up, you can still use the monkey bars to perform negative pull-ups. During a negative pull-up, you are only performing the lowering part of the pull-up. Grasp the monkey bar with your hands should width apart and jump up. Hold yourself up with your chin over the bar and slowly lower back down. Working on negative pull-ups will help you to build up enough strength to perform an entire traditional pull-up.

    Swings

    • When the swings are empty, use them for abdominal exercises. One simple abdominal move is the suspended knee tuck. Place the top of your feet securely on the swing with your hands on the ground about shoulder width apart. Your body should be straight from your shoulders to your feet. Slowly bring your knees into your chest, then push them back out. To make the move even harder, add a push-up between knee tucks.

    Open Space

    • Parks tend to have an open field area for kids to run around in. This area is ideal for sprint work. Bring a set of cones with you or use things like trash cans or a sweatshirt to help you mark out distances. Use the open space to work on sprints or even do walking lunges and backpedaling.