How to Exercise in the Summer and Beat the Heat

Summer weather is the best weather for exercising. While the heat may make you hesistant to continue trying to build a better body with strict exercise, the summer time is perfect for seizing the opportunity to exercise outside!

The best way to get a great workout is to take advantage of useful fitness and outdoor activities in NYC for exercising. If you have the drive and perserverance to get in great shape and earn a beach body that turns heads, here are some great exercise tips from Mind Over Matter in NYC to beat the summer heat and get in shape! Park Bench Step-Ups: This exercise is the same movement as regular step-ups, but now you're using a picnic table in the park. Begin by standing in front of the step or riser (8-12 inches tall) facing forward. Place your right foot in the middle of the step and step up as you balance your body for 1-2 seconds on your right leg. Your left leg should be behind your body to help stabilize your weight as it is shifting. Step down with your left leg first and continue on down with your right. Try for 2 sets of 10-12 repetitions for each leg.  Play a Good Ole' Fashioned Game of Tag:  Don't underestimate a good game of tag or, better yet, hide and seek. Either will work. Kids can play for hours, but running around while enjoying the sun and maybe even an occassional breeze can prove to be a great cardiovascular workout for grown-ups as well. Challenge yourself to keep up your pace and you'll be completing a workout without even knowing it! Ride a Bike, Rollerblade, or Skateboard: Any means of conveyance you can fit on, pack into a car, or bring to the park. Most recreational areas that encourage outdoor activities in NYC have great paths for rollerblading, biking, skateboarding, or scooter-ing, depending on your preference. Try your hand at a new activity or one you're already familiar with. There's no need to be an expert. Pushing yourself to engage in each activity can encourage you to work harder at it and get great exercise from it, as well! Do Bench Push-Ups: This exercise is exactly what it sounds like. Use a bench as support and do push-ups on it. For a higher difficulty and greater resistance, the lower your arms, the harder the push-up! Great Green Yoga Mats: Take advantage of your surroundings, specifically what's under your feet: the soft, comfortable grass. Easy for anything from abdominal routines to stretching to yoga. More comfortable and motivating than any gym could hope to be. Swimming has also been around for a long time, and for good reason. If you travel to the beach, swimming a couple of laps or just playing in the water can help you exercise. You can also take advantage of fun activities like surfing, boogie boarding, or going for a run. During the warm weather months, you don't have to restrict yourself to indoor exercising. In fact, the gym could be anywhere -- it doesn't even have to be a gym at all! Even if you can't find the time to make the trip to your local gym, you can still enjoy a great workout with even better results with fitness and outdoor activites in NYC! After all, summer is the best time to experience a new you and the sun, leaves, trees, and water can serve as encouragement while enjoying the great outdoors and make you feel good about what you're doing. Parents can also have fun with kids outdoors and still get a great workout by doing any one of these outdoor activities. Whatever your forte, don't be afraid to experience summer exercise in high definition while sculpting and toning your body. For more great tips about exercises you can try outdoors or at home, visit Mind Over Matter.