Summer days naturally draw people outdoors. With the trees, plants and flower gardens in full bloom, getting outside in the sunshine just seems natural. This is a great time to get in the habit of exercising every day. Make it a routine and by the time fall and winter roll around, you’ll have a head start on staying fit and continuing to exercise during the colder seasons.

All Time Favorite Summer Exercises

Gyms are great…for some folks. They like the structure of being in a certain place where the equipment is familiar. It gives them motivation. But not everyone is made for the gym scene. Many feel it confining and prefer to be outdoors. For these folks, there are plenty of activities to enjoy that will get you in shape. Check out some of these - they are the best of summer’s exercises and sports:

Walking - Walking each day has a lot of benefits. It’s not particularly strenuous and it’s a great way to get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine. People with health concerns who can’t do high impact workouts can take a leisurely walk and enjoy the benefits it offers. Those who are really out of shape and haven’t done any exercising in a long time can start out with walking short distances at a comfortable pace and extend the time and speed slowly. Not only is walking well for all parts of your body, but when you get up to a fair pace, you‘ll really get your heart pumping.

Jogging - Jogging is just a step up from walking and is a little higher in impact. It gets the heart pumping and works up a sweat. Early morning and late evening are the best times for jogging on really warm days. There’s nothing better than starting out your day, early in the morning with a quick jog. You’ll feel better all through the day.

Tennis - Find a partner and get out on the court. It’s a great social exercise and provides a fantastic workout. You don’t have to be a pro to enjoy it.

Basketball - Take advantage of the basketball court in a nearby park. Get a team together and have a regular time set up to meet and play.

Bicycling - Pull that old bike out of the cobwebs and air up the tires. Not only is it an economical way to get wherever you’re going, it provides a perfect cardiovascular workout.

Rowing - Find a park or nearby lake that rents rowboats or canoes and enjoy your summer afternoons out on the water. Rowing is a great workout for the upper body and it will get your heart pumping at the same time.

Remember that specific exercises accomplish certain objectives. Weight loss and overall health improvement call for an aerobic workout. Running, aerobics class, anything that gets your heart rate up will assist in this. Building strength or muscle tone is accomplished through Yoga, resistance training or weightlifting. Many people are discovering the benefit of incorporating both into their routine - doing the aerobic workout three or four days a week and complementing it with strength building on the other days.

Find what exercises appeal to you, and then get in the habit of participating in them at least several times a week; ideally every day. Try something new; experiment until you find the right exercise that keeps you interested and motivated to continue. These will lead you to success.