Fitness & exerciseGeneral wellness

5 workouts that are more fun outside

Sure, you could do these moves at the gym, but taking them outdoors kicks up the fun and overall health benefit.

Jan, 2026
LearnFitness5 workouts that are more fun outside
Slide 1
Outdoor Yoga
Trail and Beach Running
Hula Hooping
Hiking
Rock Climbing

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Slide 1

When the weather is gorgeous, why not work out outside? Even if you love the gym, there are good reasons to get some fresh air. Among its many benefits, outdoor exercise gives you the health benefits of vitamin D, the “sunshine vitamin,” and can increase your likelihood of sticking to a weight-loss plan.

The keys to a successful session are adequate hydration, sunblock, and a really fun activity—so you’ll be excited to get out there even when the weather is not optimal. Check out these great ideas for outdoor workouts.

Written byMichael Gollust.
Medically reviewed byAnn Wendling, MD, MPH.November, 2024
Sources: Peddie L + 8
  1. Peddie L, Gosselin Boucher V, Buckler EJ, et al. Acute effects of outdoor versus indoor exercise: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Psychol Rev. 2024 Aug 6:1-31.
  2. Twohig-Bennett C, Jones A. The health benefits of the great outdoors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of greenspace exposure and health outcomes. Environ Res. 2018 Oct;166:628-637.
  3. Wicks C, Barton J, Orbell S, Andrews L. Psychological benefits of outdoor physical activity in natural versus urban environments: A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies. Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2022 Aug;14(3):1037-1061.
  4. Gothe NP, Khan I, Hayes J, Erlenbach E, Damoiseaux JS. Yoga effects on brain health: A systematic review of the current literature. Brain Plast. 2019;5(1):105-122.
  5. Pinnington HC, Dawson B. The energy cost of running on grass compared to soft dry beach sand. J Sci Med Sport. 2001;4(4):416-430.
  6. Chen W-H, Yang W-W, Liu Y-C, Pan W-H, Liu C. Effects of hula hooping and mini hooping on core muscle activation and hip movement. Proceedings of the IMechE. 2018;233(1):175433711880782.
  7. Li L, Ru A, Liao T, Zou S, et al. Effects of Rock Climbing Exercise on Physical Fitness among College Students: A Review Article and Meta-analysis. Iran J Public Health. 2018 Oct;47(10):1440-1452.
  8. Stelzer EM, Book S, Graessel E, Hofner B, et al. Bouldering psychotherapy reduces depressive symptoms even when general physical activity is controlled for: A randomized controlled trial. Heliyon. 2018 Mar 23;4(3):e00580.
  9. Mermier CM, Robergs RA, McMinn SM, Heyward VH. Energy expenditure and physiological responses during indoor rock climbing. Br J Sports Med. 1997 Sep;31(3):224-8.

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