With better weather finally here, it's the ideal time for me as a Henleaze osteopath to outline the best Summer exercises in Bristol for 2021 as my patients get more active outdoors.
Exercise outdoors during the Summer months isn't just for the athletes. It's really important for all of us of all abilities and fitness levels.
A great benefit right now of exercising outdoors is getting fresh air and not having to be concerned about any potential Covid-risks that we might face indoors.
Some of the best Summer exercises to try for 2021 for those of varying abilities can include:
Brisk walking
Get the heart rate up for at least 40 minutes between 4-5 times per week. This is a great low impact Summer exercise for mind and body.
I also recommend that patients try Nordic Walking which can add an upper body workout to the walking.
I recently wrote about the benefits of Gentle Exercise - find out more here.
Running or Jogging
This delivers great cardiovascular exercise outdoors in the Summer, and I favour off-road as it has less impact on the body.
If you're new to any kind of running activity, try a ‘couch to 5K’ programme. Build up your running slowly to avoid injuries. Running clubs are a great idea to make it fun and sociable.
Undertaking new exercise regimes can put stress and strain on the body if not done with care and attention.
If you're worried about the risk of running injuries, read my top tips here on how to avoid them.
My Maintenance Osteopathy Treatments can help to prevent an injury - find out more here.
Swimming
This is one of the best all-body, low impact exercise you can do, and Summer is a brilliant time to get involved with outdoor swimming.
Some of the options include sea swimming, open air pools and lidos. Be safe and don't open-water swim alone. Sea and rivers can have strong currents.
Be careful if you swim where there is boat traffic, ensure that you are visible.
Cycling
On-road and off-road cycling provides a good form of outdoor exercise as well as great sightseeing.
Be safe and visible on roads, and wear appropriate visibility gear, a helmet and ensure your bike is well-serviced.
Summer sports
This is a great time of year to engage in outdoor Summer sports such as softball, tennis, outdoor exercise classes and five-a-side football.
It is important to socialise safely and have fun, especially after the last 12 months.
Read this News post on how to avoid sporting injuries this Summer in Bristol.
Outdoor Personal Training Classes
These can be intense, competitive and challenging.
I recommend this form of Summer exercise outdoors as it can be accessed by all ages of all fitness types under the expert guidance of a qualified PT.
If you have suffered from an injury after undertaking Summer exercise outdoors, please book a treatment rapidly and easily with me online here.
My Bristol osteopath clinic is fully open so if you’re looking for Covid-safe osteopathic treatments, please read this news post to find out about the measures in place at my Henleaze osteopathy clinic for all patients.
To find out more about the full range of Covid-secure osteopathic treatments that I provide in Bristol, please visit here for details.