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How To Take Advantage of the Outdoor Fitness Trend

How To Take Advantage of the Outdoor Fitness Trend

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From the Comfort of Your Own Garden

2020 was a chaotic year for fitness and turned the industry on its head. With gyms closed for months at a time and group exercise classes off the table, exercisers had to find new ways to stay fit. More people than ever took up outdoor sports such as running and cycling, with Cycling UK noting a 43% increase in cycling between March and August 2020.

This outdoor fitness trend shows no signs of stopping: RunRepeat surveyed almost 2,000 gym-goers and found that 72% of them reported they’ll continue to use outdoor fitness to reach their goals in 2021.

BESTFIT Magazine spoke to Alex Parran, Personal Trainer and Running Coach for Home Fitness brand, Meglio (www.mymeglio.com) to find out the 3 most important things you need to know so that you can take advantage of the outdoor fitness trend from the comfort of your own garden.

1.   Get kitted out

While no-equipment workouts are fine for the short-term, if you really want to capitalise on the outdoor fitness trend and reach your goals, you’ll need a collection of equipment that you can use to maximise your training time and get the most out of your workouts. Especially if you have a small garden with not much space to move, you’ll want efficient, space-saving equipment that still allows you to have an epic workout.

Resistance bands are key for any workout, whether done at the gym or at home and should be top of your list. This versatile equipment is easy to store and can be used for a multitude of different exercises to work the entire body.

Another essential piece of outdoor fitness equipment is a yoga mat, as chances are you’ll be working on a rough, uneven surface. Having a good yoga mat will mean you can do any exercise lying down without getting dirty or bruising yourself. Finally, a stability ball will allow you to do important strengthening exercises to work the whole body, especially the core.

2.   Arrange a dedicated workout space

When working out at home or in the garden, it is imperative that you have a dedicated space that allows you to train without distraction and has everything you need in one place. When working out in the garden, find an area that is comfortable and where you have enough space to move. Have your equipment within easy reach as well as your water and a sweat towel.

During the height of summer, you’ll want to make sure you stay in the shade to avoid sun-stroke or sunburn – you can use the shade of your house, trees, or even a parasol. With this in mind, it’s also a good idea to make sure you’re wearing waterproof sunscreen before you begin!

3.   Know your exercises

When we exercise at the gym, we have a wide range of machines, free weights, and functional equipment to guide us around our workout. When we’re at home, we need to make sure we know what exercises we are going to be doing before we begin so that we stay focused.

Be sure to write down your workout before you start so that it makes sense and you don’t waste any time. Set out your sets, reps, timings, and rest so that nothing is left to chance. This way you will get better results and are more likely to finish the workout in its entirety rather than getting distracted and stopping halfway through.

Working out at home has so many benefits, from convenience to saving money, so make the most of the outdoor fitness trend and get out into your garden to soak up the rays and breathe in that all-important fresh air.

About the author: Alex Parren is a qualified personal trainer, nutritionist, and running coach with over 6 years of experience in the fitness industry. When not writing for leading publications on fitness and health, Alex can be found running the trails of the South of England.

About Meglio: Meglio is a leading supplier of fitness and physiotherapy equipment designed to keep your body happy and healthy.

 


 

 

 

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