Your Playground Routine

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

13 Jun 2007 10:08 AM

Are you heading to the park with your kids today? It's warm outside and kids love summer time to get outside and run, play and go nuts. If you live in a really hot state like Texas (hey there), then heading to the park in the morning means you get to enjoy the outdoors, getting the kids some physical activity and giving you an opportunity for a tough, 10 minute workout that won't cost you a thing and can supercharge your whole day.

Your Workout

So, while you're at the park this morning, here's a workout for you to really get your muscles generating heat, your body burning fat and your overall health getting into tip top shape.

• Monkey Bars - Do chin ups or pull ups, it's a resistance training that pits your upper body against the bulk of your own weight and gravity. You can do a pull up and don't hurt yourself, if you can't get your chin all the way up, with repetitive practice you will. Do this five times
• Now walk in a brisk circuit around the playground equipment for five minutes; flex your arms as you walk, increasing the heart pumping. You shouldn't be panting, but you do want to be breathing harder
• Now, let's do some lunges, walking lunges are best - to do a walking lunge, you put your hands on your hips for balance and take a long stride forward with one foot, resting your weight on it and stretch down so that you are lunging, then pull the opposite foot forward as you rise; now repeat with the other leg, do the walking lunges in one full circuit or for a minimum of five lunges for each leg
• Now do another brisk walk around the playground equipment for five minutes

That's your ten-minute playground workout and it may sound like a breeze, but try it once and see how you are feeling when you're done. Do you workout when you take your kids to the playground?

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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