There are a reason so many bootcamps and new mom stroller fitness classes meet in local parks. With a little planing and creativity, parks are great places to get a full body workout. Don’t worry, if being yelled at in a group setting is not your thing and you can’t force your 8 year old in a stroller anymore, you can still get a great work-out in the park while your kiddos play.
My role as a micro manager of my children’s park activities has lightened up over time. With an 8 and a 6 year old I need to be nearby of course, but I don’t have to intervene much during playtime. I’m not comfortable enough to get lost in a book while they play, but I can certainly fit in a few sets of exercises and still keep a watchful eye on their activities. Chances are, it won’t take long before they find my activities more interesting than the playground equipment anyway. Fitting in exercise at the park is yet another way to lead by example.
The beauty of exercising in the park is you can get a full body work-out using just the playground equipment and the benches. If you would like to step it up a notch you can always bring a mat for abdominal work. Make sure, you also pack water, a towel, and hand sanitizer.
Full Body Workout in the Park
Warm-Up. Depending on the age of your kids, a game of tag usually makes for a decent warm-up. After 5-10 minutes you can send them to the equipment and you can get started.
To really crank up your work-out and maintain an elevated heart rate, do step up on a bench for 60 seconds between each strength set.
Pull-ups or Monkey Bar Hang. You can use the monkey bars for a mean set of pull- ups if you are able or you can can position your chin above the bar and hold your body weight just like in gym class as long as you’re able. Repeat.
Modified Push-ups. Use a bench or picnic table for modified push-up. Try 2 sets of 8-12.
Walking lunges around the park perimeter. 2 sets of 15 on each side.
Tricep Dips on a Bench or Low Curb. 2 sets of 10-12.
Cool down with some light stretching and perhaps another pick up game of tag.
Exercise doesn’t have to be complicated or involve an expensive gym membership. You can get a great work-out while your kids play with just your body weight and your imagination.
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Sounds like such fun! Am going to try this out tomorrow morning on my walk through the park. Will post again later to say how it went.
Wow! This is great and so creative. Honestly, I refuse to pay for a gym membership, to me, it seems like such a waste of money. So I am always trying to find unique ways to work out on my own. These are all great ideas! I’m sure it inspires others to get going too! 🙂
A visit to the park is never going to be the same again for me. Like others I too get bored while sitting and watching over the kids. The full body workout is just what I need.
This is such a lovely card Suzz. Another goegrous Hero Arts image and you do know how to do them justice. Simply stunning springs to mind!HugsLesley XxPS. Of course, you were right about the image I used the other day. It was Stampendous. I bought that and a Hero Arts one at the same time and got them mixed up when I posted. So glad you pointed it out Suzz, thanks. Xx
Next time I go the park I will try fitting in a little bit of these exercises.
Me too. Sounds like way too much fun to even sound like an exercise workout!
Great tips there.I like the monkey bar hang best-that’s one mean move to keep oneself fit!
Love it! This just comes to show how simple it is to work out and also to enjoy it. Thanks for sharing.
What great tips and now I need to jump start my workout in the park!
Just raring to go to the park Sunday morning and practice what I’ve read in this post. Thanks, looking forward to it.
You certainly made working out outside look like fun! I would like to try a few of these moves.
I love being outside in the summer. I avoid the gym in the summer whenever possible!
Awesome post! I get into a routine but always somehow fall off when things get busy. This is motivation to get me started again.
I’m not quite so motivated in the summer either, but making it fun always helps me!
Really great tips and you’ve give me some really great ideas.
Thank you for this post, I have put on a few extra pounds and I would love to get them off. Thank you for a fun alternative to the gym.
I really have a hard time going to the gym in the summer – I’m an outdoor girl!
Fantastic idea. And don’t forget swinging on the swings – you use a lot of ab muscles going higher, higher, higher!
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Love this idea, fitting in fitness anyway you can! Thanks for sharing
What a great way to stay occupied on the playground while the kids run around. Much better for you than sitting and reading a book! Pinning this. Thanks!
YOU BEAST (P.S. I didn’t realize your hair had so much auburn in it and then I realized it wasn’t you! hahahahah) Okay Poppy is a beast!
Don’t look too closely, mine is a little more grey 🙂
Poppy is great! Met her in person at Fitbloggin 13. She is in amazing shape. A very inspirational mom.
Great ways to get in some fitness while your kids are running around getting their own fitness! I can’t do lunges due to a knee injury, but I could do all the others.
This would be a great way to keep moving instead of just sitting on the bench watching the kids get exercise!
I agree completely! Now that they’re older and don’t need me right with them, I get so bored just sitting there. I feel like a bad mom, but I can only “watch them” for so long. It’s nice to pull double duty.
This might just convince me to go to the park.
You can do walking lunges when you pick blueberries, too!
I know some kids who would be motivated to stay fit if they saw me doing this. What a fun setting for some toning!
My kids are always right next to me. My oldest, 15, just completed her first triathlon and beat me by 15 seconds 🙂