Exercise is nothing new. Before the invention of treadmills, squat racks and abdominal machines people had been working out for thousands of years. Yet lack of immediate access to a gym is often an excuse for missing a workout.
The natural world is full of tools that can be used for exercise. With the right approach, you can get a great full-body workout in the woods.
There are a variety of outdoor exercises you can do using simple items found in nature. Next time you're on a hike or near some woods, use these ideas to get in a full workout and keep your physical fitness training on track.
Running Rock Throws
To get your body warmed up and your lungs pumping, find a non-flat rock that's capable of rolling. It should be somewhere in the range of 10 to 25 pounds. Bring the rock to an area with enough room to run, either on a trail or thinly wooded stretch of forest.
Raise the rock above your head and with a big step forward, throw the rock as far as you can in front of you. If you can't throw it past 10 feet on the first throw, find a smaller rock.
As soon as the rock hits the ground, chase after it, do a full-squat to pick it up (do not bend over and lift with your back), and raise it up for the next throw. Continue this rock-chasing for 30 throws, without stopping to rest. If you run out of space, it's fine to turn around or even go in a circle.
More: How to Use Hiking to Get in Shape
Pull-Ups
Pick your rock up and walk briskly until you find a horizontal tree branch. Put the rock down and do as many pull-ups as you can on the branch.
Depending on the girth of the branch, it may be harder to grip. This is okay, if you can handle it. A bigger branch helps work your forearm stabilizers and finger muscles, which helps improve your grip.
If you can't safely grip the branch in the traditional way, hang on with one hand on each side, so that you're facing the tree. When you pull up, raise your head on either side of the branch.
Once you reach your limit, take a break for roughly a minute to walk around and shake out your arms.
Get back on the branch and max out again. Repeat this effort three times.
