5 Easy Ways to Turn Your Back Yard Into an Exercise Haven

When you have a family, finding the time to sufficiently exercise amongst the thousand other things you need to do in a day is no easy task. To make things harder, as a parent, it’s not just yourself who you need to make sure exercises; you’re responsible for your children’s physical activity, too. In the midst of COVID-19, going to a gym or a play park isn’t an option for the majority of people, and this means many families are looking for ways to keep every member of the house active – without actually leaving the safety of the home. If you live in an apartment, you’re more than likely very restricted on what you can do in terms of equipment, in which case equipment-free workouts are both acceptable and adequate. If you have a house with a back yard or ample outdoor space, you can really ramp things up and turn your back yard into an exercise haven.

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Here are five easy ways you can turn your backyard into an exercise haven fit for all the family.

Trampolining

If you’re struggling to get your children to do gym class at home, a trampoline could be your savior. Kids see trampolines as fun – and they’re not wrong – but from an exercise perspective, they’re exceptionally good. Improved circulation, better balance, increased core strength, enhanced cardiovascular fitness and a more regulated metabolism are just some of the benefits of trampolining. What’re more, children and adults alike can experience these benefits, so if you’re struggling to find the time in between homeschooling and house duties, spending an hour together on the trampoline is more than enough to ensure the whole family gets the exercise they need to remain healthy.

Golf

You don’t need to go to your local putting green to reap the rewards of golfing. If you have a stretch of lawn long enough in your back yard, you can play rounds of mini golf with the whole family. Whilst it’s not necessarily the most physically demanding sport, golf is an exercise that has more subtle yet equally important side effects, such as better hand-eye coordination. Keeping fit isn’t just about high intensity workouts – moderate exercise is also a necessary part of living a healthy lifestyle. So, if you have enough open space, get some clubs for the whole family and play a stimulating game of mini golf!

Gymnastics

There’s no denying that gymnasts are utterly admirable when it comes to their strength, balance, focus and fitness, but you don’t need to be an Olympian to take part in gymnastics. Sure, you probably won’t be able to do a backflip on a beam and stick the landing, but you sure can increase your upper body strength with the help of a horizontal bar and a couple of handstands. Gymnastics is great for building muscle strength, but it also increases flexibility which, in turn, betters your posture and reduces your risk of physical injury whilst doing other exercises, and this is something the whole family can benefit from in their everyday life.

Skipping

Did you know skipping is a full body workout? If your children don’t much like cardio exercises such as running, skipping is the way forward. Most children have gotten enjoyment from skipping, and the majority of adults will likely have fond memories of skipping on the street with their friends when they were at school. Well, skipping isn’t just a playground activity. It’s a full on cardio workout with the major benefit of increasing bone density. What’s more, a skipping rope not very expensive – which makes it accessible to almost every family, and if you only have 10 minutes of a day to dedicate to working out, skipping is a good option as you’ll work your whole body – if only very briefly.

Basketball

If your children aren’t so great at working together, basketball is a good option and should definitely be incorporated into your backyard exercise regimen. Everyone should have room in their back yard for a hoop – whether it’s attached to the wall or a freestanding hoop far away from any windows. The hoop won’t take up much room but is a good way to bring the family together during their exercise time as everyone works as a team to win; and every parent knows, instilling a team ethic in your children from a young age is of utmost importance.

These are just five ways you can turn your back yard in an exercise haven. Paired with a good, balanced diet, these exercises should keep you and your family safe, happy and healthy – all without leaving your home.

This is a contributed post.

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