Your local playground is not just for child's play; it is a workout waiting to happen, and a fun one at that. If you happen to have kids and they drag you to the park. Don't sit idly by, try some of these moves. If you don't have a kid, just go and have fun and remember to share the monkey bars with the wee ones.
- On the swing: Instead of using your legs to pump, hold your legs straight out in front of you. Not only will this target your abs, but you'll use the muscles in your arms and back to keep up your swinging momentum.
- On a bench: Do tricep dips [1].
- On the monkey bars: You may be too tall, so hold onto the first bar and use your abs and quads to bend your knees and lift them up off the ground. Then one at a time, move your hands across the bars to get to the other end. This is a killer upper body workout.
For more ideas
- On a swing: Stand in front of the swing (with your back towards it) and place your palms on the ground. Now rest the front of your ankles on the swing and walk your hands out so your body is in one straight line. Now do push-ups, bending your elbows and lowering your chest to the ground. Do as many as you can. If there's no swing, place your feet on a step instead.
- On the monkey bars: You can also hold onto the bar overhead and then lift both your legs up and hook your knees around one bar. Allow your torso to hang upside down. Then work your abs by crossing your arms over your chest, and then lift your shoulders up towards your thighs. Do as many as you can.
- On the balance bar: Practice balancing yoga poses like Tree [2] and Dancer [3].
- On the stairs: Stretch your hamstrings by placing your right heel about three to five steps up, straighten your right leg, and then fold your torso forward. Then do the other leg. You can stretch your hip flexors too by stepping your right foot flat about three to five steps up, bend your right knee, and lean your torso forward. Do this on the other side too.
If you have any other ideas for using the playground to work your body, share them in the comment section below.
Source [4]