Picture a morning jog, with bright sunshine and the peace of nature all around. Now imagine if that jog could be transformed into a powerful, high-intensity interval workout that will help you stay in shape and keep you energized throughout the day. With Outdoor HIIT, the perfect combination of intervals and nature, this can become a reality. In this article we’ll take an in-depth look at Outdoor HIIT and explore all of the ways it can benefit your body and mind.
1. Take Your Workouts Outdoors with HIIT
High intensity interval training (HIIT) is a popular exercise program that’s designed to get the most out of your workouts. With HIIT, you can start building strength, endurance and cardio fitness. But why not make those workouts more interesting and take them outdoors? Here are some great reasons to give outdoor HIIT workouts a try.
- Challenge Your Body in New Ways – An outdoor workout adds new elements to HIIT. You’ll be dealing with different terrain, weather, and gravity that you wouldn’t get in a regular gym setting. That makes it a great way to give your body a real challenge.
- Enjoy Nature – Take a break from the hustle and bustle of your day and reconnect with nature. Go for a jog in the forest, or do some interval workouts on the beach. Spending time in nature is beneficial for your mental health and can help give your workouts an extra boost.
- Get a Change of Scenery – Exercising in a new environment can help keep you motivated and interested in your HIIT workouts. Mix up the usual by heading to a nearby park for your morning workout or explore a new hiking trail in the afternoon. Change is good so don’t be afraid to experiment.
Hitting the great outdoors is a great way to make your HIIT workouts more enjoyable and challenging. So put your regular routine on the backburner and get out and explore the world around you. Your body and mind will thank you for it.
2. Get Creative with Intervals and Nature
Use the Outdoors
Are you feeling inspired about lacing up your shoes and going for a run but want to get creative with your route? Nothing compares to the beauty of Mother Nature! Going outside to train offers a variety of terrain options that you don’t get on a treadmill. Choose rolling hills to challenge your stride, a gravel or dirt track to grab some extra traction, or a grassy field for a soft landing. You can break up track work with sprints through the woods and trails to mix up the pace. Harness the power of nature to help you better train and get creative with your intervals.
Integrate Interval Training
Interval training is a great way to make your runs more effective. You can use short bursts of speed and intensity to break up your exercises and break the monotony of a long run. When exploring near parks and trails, be sure to look for hills or inclines to make your workout even more effective. Hill sprints not only improve your overall endurance, they also strengthen your core when you lean forward as you run up the hill. Hill runs also improve your agility and stride as you attempt to be more efficient with your running.
Beauty and Brutality
In addition to providing you with incredible nature views, running and interval training within nature provides the added benefits of:
- increased confidence as your skills and abilities increase with each run
- giving you a sense of accomplishment when you push yourself
- helping you to become a more focused and creative runner
Challenge yourself and get creative with your running routine by taking advantage of the outdoors. Between the beauty of nature and the brutality of the test, your running goals are within reach.
3. Move Your Workouts to the Great Outdoors
The more time we spend cooped up indoors, the more our physical and mental health suffers. To add something new and exciting to your workouts and get some of the benefits of being outside, why not take your fitness activities outdoors? Here are just a few of the ways you can change up your routine:
- Take a hike. Head to a local park and explore the terrain. Walking on dirt trails, steps, and inclines is great for toning and building your cardiovascular endurance.
- Go for a swim. Find a nearby lake or beach for a quick dip in the water. You’ll get some of the benefits of swimming without the need to be in a crowded pool.
- Set up a park workout. You can use benches, playground equipment, and other structures to do a variety of exercises. The great outdoors offers endless possibilities for adding variety and creativity to your workouts.
Doing your exercise outdoors also has the added benefit of being able to soak up some rays and get some Vitamin D. And as an added bonus, you might even spot some wildlife while you’re at it. Best of all, you’ll escape the four walls of your home and experience a refreshing change in scenery.
So if you want to breathe some fresh air and escape the monotony of your usual exercise routine, why not get outside and move? Even if it’s just for a few minutes, you’ll no doubt reap the rewards of working out in the great outdoors.
4. Discover the Power of Nature-Inspired HIIT
HIIT – High Intensity Interval Training – is one of the most effective ways to gain fitness, strength, and endurance. But why not spruce it up a bit and mix in some nature-inspired moves?
Nature-inspired HIIT workouts are all about getting outside and making the most of your natural surroundings. You can find unique ways to challenge yourself while embracing the elements. It’s a great way to shake up your regular routine and build a strong connection to the environment.
With nature-inspired HIIT, you can:
Strengthen your core – In the great outdoors, you’ll find plenty of obstacles to help you work your abs. Try to incorporate some bridge ups or yoga poses into your routine.Lift heavier – Natural elements like logs or stones can up the intensity of your workout, allowing you to lift heavier weights and increase your muscle gains.Get creative – When you’re outdoors, you can combine movements to create dynamic exercises. Think running or jumping from one spot to another, or side shuffles with lunges.
Nature-inspired HIIT is a fantastic way to change up your workout and challenge your body in the great outdoors. Get ready to explore the power – and the fun – of nature-inspired HIIT!
5. Reap the Benefits of Outdoor Intervals
We all know how beneficial exercise is for our bodies, but outdoor intervals can take your regular workout to a whole new level. Interval training involves alternating between high-intensity and low-intensity workouts to give you maximum results in the shortest amount of time. Here are some of the rewards of incorporating outdoor intervals into your routine:
- Burn More Calories: Interval training is a great way to challenge your body and really amp up the calories you burn during a workout.
- Improved Cardiovascular Health: Intervals training requires you to raise your heart-rate for short bursts of time. This helps to strengthen the heart and improve your cardiovascular endurance.
- Variety: Doing your workouts outside adds an exciting twist to your routine. Variety is key when it comes to exercise, and outdoor intervals are a fun way to put the enthusiasm back into your workouts.
- Intensity & Speed: Outdoor intervals take your workout to the next level, allowing you to accelerate your runs and incorporate more vigorous exercises like hill sprints, jumping jacks, and burpees. By doing so, it can help you reach your fitness goals much faster.
There’s no better way to get your heart rate up, a sweat on, and an incredible workout in than outdoor intervals. All you have to do is break out of your comfort zone and try something different. You never know what you might be capable of until you try it.
Outdoor HIIT is a great way to bring your workout to the next level. With intervals, nature, and challenging workouts, you can have the best of both worlds: a tough and dynamic workout and the beauty of the outdoors. So before you hit the gym, don’t forget to lace up your shoes and take your workout outside.
