Park Exercise: 15 Strikes You Can Do Outdoors

Between the green grass, birds chirping, and smiling faces, it’s easy to feel good at the park. Even better? It’s an ideal location for a workout with maximum benefits. Whether you’re a parent on a play date or a city-dweller craving some green space, we’ve put together a full-body park workout for you.

We all know by now that regular physical activity is important for your health. What you may not know is that by taking your workout outside, you may get more bang for your buck. Most parks are considered green spaces, and according to the National Recreation and Park Association, green space is vital to a community for three major reasons:

1. Conservation: Parks help to preserve wildlife, improve water quality, and reduce air pollution.
2. Equity: A public park is open to all people at no- to low-cost, and fosters the growth of a healthy community.
3. Health and Wellness: Green spaces and parks provide a place for both young and old to be active, breathe clean air, and immerse themselves in nature.

Intentionally interacting with nature via exercise improves physical and mental health. So what can you do for a park workout? Ahead you’ll find the evidence to support embracing the outdoors and the perfect 15-move park workout curated by a fitness pro.

What are the benefits of park workouts?

When it comes to working out, your environment matters. Greater exposure to green space at the park can improve¹ your well-being. Add in the benefits of exercise, and there are many reasons to take your sweat sesh outside.

“Switching up your movement routine and taking it outside is pure magic for your body and soul.”—Sasha Hanway, Ladder coach

“Switching up your movement routine and taking it outside is pure magic for your body and soul,” says Sasha Hanway, senior coach of Ladder’s Yoga x Strength training team. “Not only does it keep your muscles guessing and prevent those dreaded plateaus, but it also immerses you in nature (or at least not fluorescent gym lights), fills your lungs with fresh air, and helps your body adapt to its circadian rhythms.”

More and more, research supports the benefits of outdoor workouts. Exercise in a green environment like a park boosts the following health outcomes:

Better mental health

Sure, the joy exhibited at the park is contagious, but your mood can be further improved by nature itself.

“Spending time in green spaces can significantly reduce stress levels and help your mind recover,” explains Jun Wu, PhD, professor of environmental and occupational health at UC Irvine. “Whether you are taking a walk in the park or simply sitting under a tree, these natural environments help diminish stressful states and lessen negative thoughts.”

Doses of nature-based activity² in the 20- to 90-minute range have been found to improve mental health. You may even feel more motivated.

“Green spaces encourage you to get moving, which not only helps you maintain a healthy weight and cardiorespiratory fitness but also elevates your mood, reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety, and lowers the risk of mental health disorders,” says Wu.

Sound sleep

Ever find yourself tossing and turning at night, staring at the clock at 3:30 A.M.? (Thanks, perimenopause!) Moving your workout to the park may get you a better night’s sleep³.

As you would expect, regular exercise helps⁴ you catch some Z’s. Add some outdoor time, and you’ll likely increase your your slumber. Researchers found a significant link³ between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and time spent outdoors and total sleep time. Wu adds that the quality of your sleep may improve: “Activities such as jogging, walking, or practicing yoga in green spaces can help you sleep better at night.”

Sharper attention

Struggle with a short attention span while doing important tasks? Outdoor movement may be the answer.

One study⁶ comparing the results of a 15-minute walk indoors vs. outdoors found increased attention and working memory when participants were in the great outdoors. An outdoor workout can be beneficial before a meeting or something else that requires your utmost attention.

Greater physical health

A park workout may influence your body in a number of ways. Studies⁷ have shown that exposing yourself to nature reduces cortisol, a stress hormone that can wreak havoc in your body if left unchecked.

Green space exposure also has the potential to improve heart function⁸, blood pressure⁹, and inflammation markers¹⁰.

Exposure to improved air quality (hopefully!)

Finally, there’s the fresh air. Because parks usually have plenty of trees and vegetation, there’s the potential for improved air quality. “They capture harmful pollutants like ground-level ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. Trees, in particular, excel in filtering these pollutants,” says Wu. (This, of course, doesn’t apply if the air quality index is less-than-stellar—make sure you’re checking your local AQI before exercising outdoors.)

What’s the best type of workout for the park?

Now that you’re at the park, what type of exercise is best? Should you stick with cardio or use the park as a setting for resistance training? What can you do?

“Literally anything—especially if there’s a stair or a bench,” Hanway says. “My favorite park workout is a blend of strength, Pilates, and yoga. Some people might feel weird about exercising in public, but I always say the reframe is that you are actually inspiring other people to move their bodies.”

Some parks feature calisthenics equipment—high bars, incline benches, gymnastic rings, etc.—that you can use for a bodyweight workout. Plus, there’s walking the sidewalks or playing with the kiddos. But if you’re looking for a full-body workout that will hit all your major muscles, Hanway has a park workout for you to try.

The ultimate 15-move park workout

Before you hit the strenuous moves, Hanway suggests easing into the workout. “Take three conscious breaths to begin. Inhale, reaching your hands overhead and filling up through your belly, ribs, and chest. Pause, then exhale pulling hands to heart center, out through chest, ribs, and belly,” she says. “Repeat three times before starting.”

Warmup

1. Skip

“Warming up is key, and you’ll kick it off with skips. It’s exactly what you think,” says Hanway. “They challenge leg strength, coordination, and balance while signaling to the central nervous system that we’re going to work!”

1. Start by bringing one foot forward.
2. Hop on that same leg.
3. As you come down, put your other foot forward and hop on that leg.
4. Alternate legs for 30 seconds.

2. Walking hamstring scoop

Sit all day for work? Stretch out your tight hamstrings and get your heart rate up with this move.

1. Stand tall and step forward with your right foot, keeping your right leg straight.
2. Reach down with both hands, scooping toward the ground while hinging at your hips to stretch your right hamstring.
3. Stand back up, step forward with your left foot, and repeat the scooping motion for 30 seconds.

3. Lateral lunge with tap

Hanway suggests this move because it “helps warm-up the glutes, hamstrings, and quads while challenging balance and core strength.” It also wakes up muscles you may not frequently use because you’ll “move the body in a lateral plane with rotation.”

1. Stand tall, step your right foot wide out to the right side, and bend through your right leg, sending your hips back and keeping your chest to about 45 degrees.
2. Tap the ground near your right foot with your left hand, and then step back to stand at the center.
3. Alternate sides for 30 seconds.

Legs (2 to 3 sets)

4. Air squat

You’ll target your quads, glutes, hamstrings, and calves with this efficient move. Hanway likes squats with a band because they work on strength and mobility in the entire lower body.

1. Stand with your feet hip-width distance apart, and a slight outturn your toes. If you have one, loop a resistance band right above your knees for an extra challenge.
2. Keeping your knees in line with the direction of your toes, sit back like you’re sitting in a chair.
3. Try to sink to about a 90-degree angle in your knees, and then drive through your feet to stand.
4. Perform 15 reps.

5. Good morning

Looking to work your posterior chain? “This is a hip hinge movement that targets glutes, hamstrings, and functional strength in the core and back,” says Hanway.

1. Stand with your feet hip-width distance apart.
2. Hinge forward, sending your glutes back (like you’re about to tap a door closed with your booty).
3. Bring your chest to almost parallel to the ground.
4. Drive through your heels as you rise to stand.
5. Complete 10 reps.

6. Right side glute-focused step-up

This challenging move “targets your glutes and helps encourage functional single-leg balance and core stability,” says Hanway.

1. Plant your right foot on a stair step or park bench.
2. Hinge forward from your hips slightly.
3. Drive through your right heel and squeeze your right glute as you come to stand.
4. Complete 8 reps.

7. Left side glute-focused step-up

What you do to one side, you’ve got to do the other—and unilateral training is a great way to work on muscle imbalances. This is the same move, on a different side.

1. Plant your left foot on a stair step or park bench.
2. Hinge forward from your hips slightly.
3. Drive through your left heel and squeeze your left glute as you come to stand.
4. Complete 8 reps.

Upper body (2 to 3 sets)

8. Incline push-up

Hanway opts for push-ups to target the chest, biceps, triceps, shoulders, and core. “The push-up is the GOAT of full-body work,” she says. If you can’t do a push-up on the ground, incline push-ups—done by placing your hands on a park bench or a stair step—are a great option.

1. Bring your hands to a step or bench, keeping them in line under your shoulders.
2. Find one line of energy from your head to your heels and draw your belly button to your spine.
3. Lower down, making sure your elbows come back about 45 degrees with a 90-degree angle. Go as low as you can with correct form, not letting your hips sag.
4. Press back up and repeat for 10 reps.

9. Shoulder tap

“Shoulder taps challenge core stability and build deltoid strength,” says Hanway. Elevating your hands during this move makes it a little easier. “Pro tip: Keep your feet wider for balance.”

1. Starting on all fours, place your hands under your shoulders and knees under your hips.
2. Extend your legs out so your body forms a straight line.
3. Engage your core and bring your opposite hand to the opposite shoulder.
4. Alternate and complete 10 reps.

10. Superhuman to push-up

For these next few moves, try moving to the grass or a mat to be more comfortable. You’ll feel this in your whole body, but Hanway likes combining superhuman with push-ups to target the erector spinae (back support muscles) and engage the core.

1. Lie down on your stomach, with your arms extended long. Engage your glutes, hamstrings, and back.
2. Lift your legs and arms off the ground at the same time.
3. Keep your gaze neutral and down.
4. Repeat 4 times, then bring your hands under your shoulders and on your knees or toes, and complete one full push-up. This is 1 rep. Repeat 4 times for 5 total reps.

Core (2 to 3 sets)

11. Dead bug

Don’t let your fear of creepy crawlies stop you from doing this A+ core move. “Dead bugs strengthen the core and improve coordination by targeting the abdominals, hip flexors, and lower back,” says Hanway.

1. Lie on your back with your arms extended toward the ceiling and your knees bent at 90 degrees.
2. Simultaneously lower your right arm and left leg toward the floor while keeping your lower back pressed into the ground.
3. Return to the starting position before alternating sides.
4. Perform 20 reps.

12. Bear to plank

Improve posture and reduce your risk for injury by strengthening your core. “Bear to planks target your core and shoulders, and require activation in the deep core for stabilization,” Hanways says.

1. Starting in a plank, step each foot forward to come to a bear position (think floating table top, knees stacked under hips).
2. Using the strength of your core—trying not to move the hips at all (think about balancing your favorite beverage there)—step back to plank.
3. Repeat 10 times.

Cooldown

13. Puppy pose

Time to reward your body for all that hard work! You’ll feel a nice deep stretch in your spine and shoulders while performing puppy pose.

1. Get into tabletop (on all fours).
2. Keep your hips stacked over your knees.
3. Walk your hands forward, bringing your forehead to rest on the ground.
4. Breathe in this position for 5 to 10 breaths, trying to get your chest as close to the ground as possible.

14. Passive or yogi squat

Hip flexibility is a major player in your range of motion and posture. “Passive, or yogi, squats open hips and challenge mobility,” says Hanway.

1. Bring your feet slightly wider than your hips.
2. Keep your heels in and toes out to about 45 degrees, and sink your hips low toward the ground.
3. Tuck your tailbone under and pull your hands toward your heart center, pressing your palms together.
4. Take 5 to 10 breaths in this position, trying to keep your heels on the ground. If your heels don’t go to the ground, try sitting on a yoga block.

15. Dynamic standing forward fold

Does your back bear the brunt of your stress? “A forward fold releases tension in the back and body,” says Hanway.

1. Stand with your feet hip-width distance apart.
2. With a generous bend in the knees and a slight tuck of your chin towards your chest, fold forward over your thighs.
3. Grasp your elbows with your opposite hands and find some sway.
4. Take 5 to 10 breaths, trying to release deeper toward to earth with each breath.