Fitness & exerciseGeneral wellnessStress relief

8 great outdoor workouts to try now

Get out of the gym and have fun in the sun with these activities.


LearnFitness8 great outdoor workouts to try now
Walking
Swimming and water exercise
Biking
Golf
Tennis
Gardening and yard work
Lawn sports
Paddling

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Looking for ways to get fit without spending your workout hours stuck inside a dark gym? You can stay active while enjoying your time outdoors with these eight fun-in-the-sun workouts. And don’t forget to recruit a buddy to join you; each activity is more fun with friends.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Preventi... + 9
  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthy Weight, Nutrition, and Physical Activity. Physical Activity for a Healthy Weight. Page last reviewed: October 28, 2020.
  2. Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical School. Calories burned in 30 minutes for people of three different weights. March 8, 2021.
  3. Larsen RT, Wagner V, Korfitsen CB, Keller C, et al. Effectiveness of physical activity monitors in adults: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2022 Jan 26;376:e068047.
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthy Swimming. Health Benefits of Water-based Exercise. Page last reviewed: May 4, 2016.
  5. Arthritis Foundation. In the Swim: Aquatic Exercise for Arthritis. August 15, 2022.
  6. National Safety Council. Safety Topics: Bicycle Deaths. Accessed November 1, 2024.
  7. Robinson PG, Clarsen B, Murray A, Junge A, et al. A prospective study of injuries and illnesses among 910 amateur golfers during one season. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2024 Jul 31;10(3):e001844.
  8. Edwards N, Dickin C, Wang H. Low back pain and golf: A review of biomechanical risk factors. Sports Medicine and Health Science. 2020;2(1):10-18.
  9. Stacy Simon. Tennis, Anyone? American Cancer Society. July 5, 2017.
  10. Daniel J. Green. ACE-SPONSORED RESEARCH: Can Stand-up Paddleboarding Stand Up to Scrutiny? American Council on Exercise. August 2016.
Written by Patrick Sullivan.
Medically reviewed by Amy Gonzales, MD.November, 2024
Updated onAugust, 2026
Written by Patrick Sullivan.
Medically reviewed by Amy Gonzales, MD.November, 2024
Updated onAugust, 2026
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