Summer in the Okanagan is the best! The hot sun, the beach, the beautiful mountains and the water makes living in the Okanagan an amazing experience.
This is the time a lot of people get un-motivated and fall off track with fitness. A big reason is because we don't want to be stuck inside, and who can blame us when we live in such an amazing town?
Why not take your fitness outside? For a new experience, try a beach workout and add some fun and variety to your routine.
Go for a beach walk or run. The advantage of running or walking on the beach is that the sandy surface has some give, making the exercise less jarring on your joints. Try to find as flat a surface as possible to run or walk on to feel a little more stable. Walking on soft sand is excellent, but it's a much more challenging workout. When running, you're going to have to spend a little more time stretching because it's going to put extra stress on the Achilles tendon because of the soft sand. You also may feel sore in different spots that you are not used to just from the workout change.
Another benefit of walking or running on the beach is that you will use 20 to 50 percent more calories then you would walking at the same pace on a hard surface. Extra calories burned is always a bonus.
If you love running, adding beach runs will develop more strength in your lower body. When the sand shifts beneath you as you run, your ankles, arches and calves are engaged and will become stronger. Another bonus; muscular calves.
My favorite workout on the beach is full body circuit training. All you need is yourself! Try this for your next beach workout doing 3 sets back to back with little rest in between sets.
20 pushups
40 walking lunges
20 mountain climbers - in plank position bring knees up to chest and move fast
20 frog jumps - in squat position, jump forward and land in squat. Move fast!
10 burpees
1 minute run
Side plank - hold body up on hand with other hand pointed to sky, legs straight out
Inch worm - hands by feet, walk out in plank position, walk feet to hands and stand
20 skater lateral jumps - jump side to side as far as you can, landing on one foot
This is a great workout to add to your routine which will burn a lot of calories in a short amount of time. You will be getting all the benefits of exercise along with vitamin D from the sun, fresh air and the view of the amazing Okanagan.
Have fun this summer staying in shape, and don't forget to stay hydrated during the summer heat!
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