As soon as the weather is nice, it’s tempting to spend every moment outside, even during your regular workout hours. But for those who enjoy summer sports, there are many ways a gym workout can help maintain your fitness and, let’s be honest, offer an air-conditioned respite when the heat starts to get to you. Here are some exercises that can help boost and maintain your fitness in and out of the gym.
- Squats
Squats are one of the most simple exercises but they’re also one of the most effective. They target nearly every muscle in your legs and glutes. Strengthening these powerhouse muscles gives you the power to push with your lower body, an essential element of most athletic movements.
- Pullups and pushups
Do pullups and pushups give you flashbacks to middle school? There’s a reason they’re part of most standard fitness tests. These two exercises are excellent for building strength in your arms, lats, and shoulder muscles. If you’re a swimmer, you know those muscles are essential for most strokes, but they also help with tennis strokes and golf and baseball swings.
Tip: If a full pullup seems inaccessible, try a modified pullup using an exercise band, or checkout the assisted pullup machine in MINT’s weights floor.
- Broad jumps and squat jumps
Plyometrics like broad jumps and squat jumps are explosive movements that improve power and speed, as well as overall athleticism. Moves like this can help quicken reaction time and help with footwork.
- Bench press
The bench press will improve upper body fitness, including arm and chest muscles. And bonus – it’ll help strengthen your core too, a key muscle in most athletic pursuits. This move can be done with a barbell or dumbbells.
You can include any (or all!) of these moves into your personal fitness routine using the equipment found in MINT’s weight training area. Many of these moves are also incorporated into group fitness classes, like Power Playground, FLEX, and TRX Bootcamp. If you need more instruction, try out a personal trainer.