Are you a garden gym bunny?

30 July 2015 by
First published: 6 August 2015

At this time of year it seems wasteful to spend our workout sessions in the gym, so have you become a garden gym bunny yet?

Statistics have shown that increasing numbers of people prefer to exercise outside – and there are so many benefits. So why not save yourself some money and freeze your gym membership for the summer and show the great outdoors your inner gym bunny!

A survey by garden furniture etailer, Alfresia found that 60% of people prefer to exercise outside, and a massive 40% of that are women because they feel intimidated in a gym environment. So, if you feel the pressure from onlookers in the gym and think exercising in the sunshine will make you feel freer and more confident, read on!

Firstly, if your garden is looking a bit worse for wear, it might be fun to go garden shopping as an excuse to get you motivated and make the space into a calming, beautiful and inspiring place to release some energy. Also gardening itself is a great way to workout and it can be cathartic for letting go of life’s stresses.

Also, if your garden is a bit on the small side , or your home is minus a garden a nice corner in a nearby park can do the job just as well. This is also a bonus for meeting new people and generally getting outside, even if you use this as an opportunity to get out of the office on your lunch break. Plus working out outside will give your body a burst of vitamin D!

The survey by Alfresia also found that more than 30% of people who don’t have a space to exercise outdoors are inclined to join an outdoor bootcamp or running club. A great outdoor option if space is an issue! 

Not sure where to start if you’re going for a solo sweat sesh on the lawn? Check out these easy options below:

Resistance workouts
You can buy a cheap resistance band which are perfect for packing into your bag and taking to the park. This workout is great for working on your glutes, also they come in different resistance strengths so you can up the ante once you’ve built up a good amount of strength.

Rock-hard core
Core workouts are simple to do without any equipment, as you can use a yoga mat or a towel in your garden to cushion your back. If you’re tired of the same old core workouts, try this set of 6 core workouts and push your body to the limit to get a rock-hard core.

Total-body workout
Sometimes it’s not always about having a flat tummy. If you think your body needs an all-round tone up, try these 5 simple workouts that are adaptable for working out in the comfort of your own home/garden.