By Cindy Prosser
The summer season is upon us and you know what that means – days filled with sun, sand and good friends. But the beach can be for more than just lounging. We’ve put together our favorite beach-focused workouts to help you burn calories and tone your muscles – not to mention get that beach body you’ve always wanted to show off your hot, new one piece swimsuit.
Exercising on the beach can be quite a workout. The unevenness of the sand challenges your body and can help you get a great, full-body workout from your calves to your shoulders (and everything in between). Here are our top six choices for calorie torching workouts that can be done while hanging out on the shoreline in one piece swimwear, the ideal attire for these workouts.
#1: Jumping Rope
Jumping rope isn’t just for kids anymore! According to fitness experts, an adult jumping rope can burn up to 750 calories per hour, all while toning their muscles and strengthening their heart. And best of all, it’s one of the most inexpensive exercises you can do. All you need is a $10 jump rope.
A sandy beach provides a great place to jump rope, thanks to the sandy surface that will challenge your legs and help you improve your balance. Try jumping for 5 minutes, then take a short break. Aim for 15-20 minutes of total jumping.
#2: Land and Sea Drills
This exercise incorporates the sandy beach and beautiful waves all in one swoop. Start on the beach by doing 10 crunches, 10 pushups, and 10 squats. Then, hop up and run toward the water.
Wade into knee-deep water and run along the shoreline for 50 yards, then return to your starting point. Hop back up on the sand and start over with your crunches, pushups, and squats – followed by water running. Do five sets total.
#3: Jumping Planks
Strengthen your core and leg muscles with this great workout that will have you flaunting a six-pack in no time. Start with your hands by your sides, then jump down to a crouching position. Your hands should be holding most of your weight.
Jump your feet back into a plank position, hold for 10 seconds, then hop back to crouching. Jump up. Repeat the whole move 20 times.
#4: Pushup + Leg Lift Combo
All you’ll need for this move is a lawn chair to balance you. Kneel in front of the lawn chair and rest your palms shoulder-length apart on the front of the chair. Slowly straighten your arms and legs, then lift yourself so you’re in a plank pose.
Once you’re in a plank, push both feet up so you’re resting on your toes, then slowly lift your right leg up while pushing your arms down toward the chair. Repeat the pushup with your left leg back and finish as many reps as you can in two minutes.
#5: Triangle Pose
Target your tummy, shoulders, and inner thighs with this challenging pose. Trust us, once you master it, the benefits are ten-fold. Start in push-up pose while making sure your body is in a straight line from head to toe.
Move to a side plank by rotating your body to balance on your left hand and foot, and then extend your right arm straight up in the air. Pulse up and down 5 times, rest, and repeat.
#6: Warrior Tilt
This simple move targets your abs, shoulders, buns, obliques and legs. Start by standing straight up with your heels together (toes turned out) and placing your arms by your sides. Bend your right knee and rest the bottom of your right foot on your left knee. Raise your arms out to your sides at shoulder level.
Next, tilt 45 degrees left so your torso is diagonal and look toward your left hand. Straighten to your starting position and do 8 total reps, then switch sides.
Keep these six workouts in mind if you want a lean, toned body to hit the beach with this summer. Enjoy!
—————————————–
About the Author:
Cindy Prosser is no stranger to the search for perfect one piece swimsuits, and now that she’s a full-time mom and part-time freelance writer, she is no stranger to needing to find perfect suits at a perfect price in a hurry. Want to make life easier? Pin Bare Necessities on Pinterest and snag the Bare Necessities coupon today!
