No Gym Required: Take Your Cardio Outside

Are you spending time this summer outdoors enjoying the fresh air and the beauty of nature around you? Nothing like being outdoors to lift your mood and get some exercise for your heart hearth. I have been exercising so much this summer while in Park City that no gym is required for my cardio workouts while I enjoy the beauty of Utah.

This post is sponsored by Peach, however, all opinions are my own.

As we enter the last months of summer I hope you’re getting outside and enjoying the warmer weather before the cooler temperatures send you back inside your house. If the weather is hot and steamy where you are early morning walks are the best way to get outside for some exercise. Exercising outdoors at any time of the year has so many health benefits and you don’t need a gym to benefit from

Take a Walk with Friends

The easiest way to get in some cardio exercise is just taking a walk. It’s easy on the joints, you don’t need a lot of fancy equipment, and you can burn calories, even though it’s a more modest amount compared to some other activities.

According to the guidelines, walking for 30 minutes, 5 days a week, at a brisk pace (about 4 mph) will help ward off chronic disease. If you can aim for 60- 90 minutes a day you will see the pounds drop off.

Walking is a weight-bearing exercise (which means it’s good for bone health) and helps build cardiovascular endurance. Almost everyone can do it, regardless of fitness level.

Related Post: Walking for Your Health with Jambu

Walking your dog is an easy way to walk 60 minutes daily.

Related Post: The Benefits of Having a Dog

Go for a Bike Ride

Not only is bicycling an excellent cardiovascular exercise, but you can really explore your community by cycling to different neighborhoods or in parks, bike paths, or trails. In Park City, there are so many wonderful trails for bikes. Because of the altitude I found riding up large hills extremely difficult on my lungs but Sammy and I rode every day with my husband to get in some cardio exercise. We rode at least an hour every day if we weren’t hiking.

If you don’t like to bike alone purchase a tandem bike! Sammy doesn’t ride a bike by herself but she loves being my partner on our bike rides!

Tennis Anyone?

Another great outdoor sport is tennis but you don’t need to be good at it, just grab a partner and hit balls to each other. Moving around on the tennis court is a wonderful way to get some exercise outdoors!

I don’t play tennis as much as I used to, but I enjoy hitting balls with my husband and Sammy. Tennis is another great way to socialize while staying fit!

Read more about the benefits of playing tennis after 50 here.

I am wearing the Kinsei Tank (backward) and the Yuko Skort for Peach’s summer collection. The Kinsei Tank also comes in neon green and is so light and airy. It’s perfect so exercising in the summer outdoors!

The Yuko Skort features all the functions of a traditional golf or tennis skort (including ball pocket), with chic modern styling you’ll want to wear beyond the club.

Take a Hike in Nature

Hiking uses a lot of up-and-down movement, so you get a tremendous leg workout along with the cardiovascular benefits. Hiking can be simple trails along a river and hills but if you can handle the altitudes and you’re in good health hiking up hills and mountains do workout your legs and lungs.

We have spent the summer hiking around the surrounding mountains by Park City and realized that I was in pretty good shape when it came to higher altitudes.

My favorite hiking trip was at Sundance Resort which is owned by Robert Redford.  In 1969, Robert Redford bought the land now known as Sundance and envisioned the careful growth of a community committed to the balance of art, nature, and community. The Sundance Film Festival is also held here.

Sundance offers over 10 miles of alpine trails for the beginner to the expert hiker. Take a casual lift ride up and enjoy a scenic trail back to the base or get your daily workout by hiking up to the summit and riding the chair back down.

We hiked down to Stewart Falls and happened to watch a man propel down the falls.

If you look really closely you can see the guy in the waterfall. What a dangerous thing to do!

We enjoyed walking along the beautiful streams throughout the hike. It was a 4-mile hike from the top of the mountain back to the resort. This trail is rated moderate. You should always check your trails before you go hiking.

Before you try hiking I suggest you read this helpful article.

Related Post: 10 Hiking Tips for Older Adults

What fun things do you enjoy doing outside to get your cardio workout in?

 

Peach is having a sale up to 70% off! You can shop the sale here

Thank you to Peach for designing athleisure clothes for women who want style while working out or just wanting to look good!

This post contains affiliate links that may earn income for Hello I’m 50ish.