The Monterey Peninsula offers many outlets for both indoor and outdoor physical activity. Living here has inspired me to stay active and adventurous, but every area has unique opportunities for exercise. The key to staying active is changing up your routine, and finding fun ways to get your heart rate up. Regular aerobic exercise benefits overall health by regulating blood sugar, reducing blood pressure, improving endurance, relieving stress, and maintaining a healthy heart. These photos are meant to provide ideas for fun activities that we can do to get out and get moving!
Hiking is a fun way to get outside and enjoy nature. Hiking offers a good cardiovascular workout, especially if you are going up and down hills. It is a great option on a nice day, and a good way to keep your workouts new and exciting.
Running is a high-calorie burning activity that you can do indoors (on a treadmill) or outdoors. All you need is a good pair of shoes, and you can run pretty much anywhere. For those who are new to working out, a light jog for 2-3 miles is a great place to start. From there you can work up to faster paced runs, and/or longer distances.
Sailing is a great option for students in Monterey. CSU Monterey Bay and Monterey Peninsula College offer sailing classes. You sail small boats just like this, and in Monterey’s harsh winds it can be an intense workout. Yacht clubs also often offer sailing lessons, and classes can be an exciting way to learn something new, meet new people, enjoy the outdoors, and burn calories.
Swimming is a great cardiovascular workout because it requires use of all of the major muscles and it is easy on your joints. Swimming is a non-weight bearing activity so it is an especially good option if you are injured or have joint problems. It is also a great option for active rest days in your training.
Yoga is a fun form of exercise that incorporates strength, flexibility, and some cardiovascular training. There are many different forms of yoga, but most all of them will help you relieve stress and tone your whole body. Yoga classes are offered on college campuses, in health clubs, and in private studios. Yoga is a great option if you are looking to try something new!