Yes! We Melburnians can go outside again! Not only are restrictions about to ease, but the weather is (slowly) picking up, making it the perfect time of year to pick up on our outdoor exercise game.
But what is a top outdoors exercise routine? And what exercises are going to help sculpt your figure for a nice, firm tone? Grab your male or female protein bars and head on down to Edi Gardens, St Kilda Botang, Fitzroy Gardens – wherever – it’s time for your ultimate outdoor workout session.
Side leaps
20 reps on each side.
This is an amazing all-round leg worker that helps build your glutes, hamstrings, calves and quads. Start by standing on a flat surface with knees bent and feet together.
Next, hop as far as you can to the right, landing on the ball of your right foot but not placing your left foot on the ground. Repeat the process by leaping off your right foot and landing on your left before repeating to the right again.
Bench dips
15 reps
The classic park bench dip should be on everyone’s outdoor workout routine and for a very good reason: it absolutely shreds your tris and isn’t even that difficult to do!
All you have to do is sit on a park bench with your hands to your seat before bringing your bum off the bench whilst supporting yourself with your hands. Next, dip your bum toward the ground until your upper arms are almost parallel with the ground before returning to the starting position – it’s that simple!
Step up
The step up is another park favourite and it allows you to work your glutes, hamstrings and quads all in the one stepping session! It’s highly likely you already know this one and all you have to do is find a stable step where you can start by stepping your right foot up on the base.
Step back down and repeat the process with your left foot, being sure to lift your trailing leg diagonally behind you as you step up to the solid base.
Park bench incline push up
15 reps
Parks benches aren’t just for dips – they also provide a pretty awesome incline that when used for push ups allows you to work different areas of your pecs, tris, shoulders and core that you wouldn’t normally work if you weren’t on an incline.
This one is pretty self-explanatory as we all know how to do a push up, it’s just that with this you will be doing it with the provided incline of the park bench.
Side shuffle
Do for one minute
The faithful side shuffle is a great way to work your inner and outer thighs and quads without having to get on some crazy exercise machine (in fact, all you need is the solid earth below you!). All you have to do is stand with your feet hip distance apart before taking three massive side steps to the right.
Once you have completed the three side steps, do a big 180 jump so that you are on your side and repeat the process, dragging your right foot along this time.
Chin ups
Okay, we know this isn’t for everyone, and can take some time and a heap of patience to perform, but if you can do a chin up in the park then you are doing pretty good and healthy things for your frame! What’s more, if your park has monkey bars then you have yourself a free chin up bar.