Summer Breeze: Four Ways to Have a Challenging Workout Outdoors
If there’s one philosophy we live and breathe at EVO, it’s that movement is not an intervention, it’s nature’s way.
Our continuous interaction with the great outdoors us is what keeps us flourishing: something that’s proven by scientists time and time again. Take us out of our natural environment and our mind and bodies dysfunction. When we return, we begin to heal.
Nature was the gym of our ancestors. Today, it still provides us with everything we need to stay muscular, lean and toned. Intense, instinctive and free: there are plenty of ways to have a challenging workout outdoors. Invigorate your mind, tone your body, and get fit in the wild by giving these a go…
1. Climb to the top
There are so many reasons climbing will rock your world. Your entire body gets a challenging workout outdoors, especially your arms, shoulders and back – and all without lifting one weight. One surprising benefit is flexibility: reaching for holds forces you to stretch your limbs in ways you wouldn’t in ground-based exercise. Europe is abundant in glorious mountains: we’ve rounded up a list of the best climbing destinations, whether you’ve been climbing for five minutes or 50 years.
2. Squat in the sun
The joy of squatting is that you can do it anywhere. The super move gives you a concrete core and works wonders on your glutes. You’ll burn fat, boost circulation, prevent injuries, and increase your ability to carry out day-to-day activities without pain (such as bending to pick up a pen or lift heavy shopping bags). Follow our guide to perform a deep squat, then practice a series of them outdoors.
3. Take the plunge
A study conducted by the University of Essex shows that exercising outdoors boosts health and mood, with both immediate and long-lasting effects. The presence of water improved positivity and self esteem even more. A simple run along the beach or yoga by a lake brings us these benefits, but nothing can be more invigorating for the soul than actually getting in the water itself. Whether you’re surfing or wild swimming, diving in for a dip is a natural endorphin-booster that elates the senses, boosts the immune system, burns more calories than an indoor pool and works every muscle in your body.
4. Go on the pull
Increase your functional strength, fully activate your body and boost power, agility and coordination: it all begins with a jump pull-up. This insanely sculpting move can be done anywhere there’s a bar (or branch) to pull yourself up on. Even if you live in the city, you’ll probably find a park with bars to pull yourself up on. If not, visit an EVO club and use our training zones packed with specialist functional equipment.
Working out in the wild challenges parts of your mind and muscles in your body that are otherwise left unused. Movements our ancestors found second-nature. From our freestyle fitness playground to innovative Kinesis Wall, training at EVO is designed so that you can experience all of the ways to have a challenging workout outdoors, indoors.
