Moving back to Phoenix has once again afforded me the opportunity to be outside much more (although sometimes it’s almost TOO hot to be outdoors – 110+ is pretty hot). Regardless, I have taken advantage of this opportunity and have switched up some of my training.

Getting outdoors makes for an interesting training stimulus. Typically, I drink my coffee, drive to the gym, do my prep, and mentally “switch-on” for a training session. However, when I go outside, I typically just start. No real “pre-game ritual” or mental preparation needed; I simply walk in my backyard and do my workout. Sometimes I swim. Sometimes I stretch. Sometimes I swing the ViPR log (more on that in another article). I even bought a weighted stick for some loaded mobility sessions (also more in another article). I have learned some interesting things by training outdoors.

First and foremost – the reality of training (to me) is this: If you want to get really strong, you probably need to go to the gym. Unless you have an elite home gym set-up (I used to the first time we lived in Phoenix), you simply aren’t going to get enough stimulus training at home. Again, I have a 4.5kg weighted stick and a 6kg ViPR log. No matter how many reps I get on these, I will not be “strong” in the traditional sense.

Second – it can be both good and bad to train without a “mental preparation” window. As I mentioned, I am able to mentally “ramp-up” when going to the gym. In my backyard I do none of that. Sometimes it can be good to shake it up for yourself and just go. A lot of times in real life there are no warm-ups and occasionally it can be good to just jump right in. Other times, you may need to psyche yourself up for a big training session. Typically warming up is better, but don’t sleep on the value of finding ways to move your body in its “everyday” state.

Third – training outdoors is different. It feels weird to do exercise somewhere other than a gym, but being in the sun and hearing the birds chirping, your neighbors yelling, or cars driving by (or sometimes in my case coyotes howling) can be stimulating/fun/exciting. To be fair, it can also be weird. However, it’s just DIFFERENT than being in a gym setting. Different isn’t always good or bad, it’s simply whatever you make of it. Stepping out of your comfort zone is a big plus here (or better yet – stepping INTO your comfort zone is a big plus here).

Finally – I have the freedom to try new things without being judged at a gym. This one isn’t too big of a deal to me (I typically don’t care if people like/don’t like what I’m doing in a gym), but if you are new to the gym and/or self-conscious about how you look exercising, being outside where (potentially) no one can see you trying new things is a big win. I have a list of different things I want to try and take note of how they feel when I do them in the backyard. If I like them I take them to the gym with me, and if I don’t…well at least no one got to see me make a fool of myself.

Overall, I’d highly recommend trying to get more exercise outside. Whether it be stretching, running, training, swimming, tennis, pickleball, softball, soccer, basketball, etc., etc., etc., try to be outdoors and connect a bit more with nature. Take one day where you usually go to the gym and instead go outside to train (weather, location, etc. permitting). Loosen your definition of “training” and instead of setting sets/reps/time for yourself, just have some fun and experiment a bit. I think in the long-run it will help your health much more than 4 sets of 12 on the leg press.

Trying out some new exercises in the backyard