The Best Ways to Exercise When It’s Too Hot to Workout Outside

Exercise is important, and so is fresh air and sunlight. There are times that outdoor exercise can be dangerous though, and the hottest days of summer are among those. So should you skip exercising when heat indexes are dangerously high? Not necessarily.

If you prefer more intense forms of exercise, moving things inside for the summer is a better way of keeping things cool. There are lots of gyms out there with a variety of plans, including ones that you can cancel after a few months. Hit the treadmill, change things up on the elliptical, or even sign up for some classes.

Speaking of classes, yoga classes are typically taught in an indoor studio where it’s cooler. Unless of course it’s hot yoga, and in that case, you might as well be taking a class outside in the park. If you go for one of the basic forms of yoga, you can beat the heat and enjoy a form of exercise that focuses on stretching, flexibility, and strength.

Try out some water sports! You aren’t just stuck with swimming laps – there are lots of different options when it comes to exercising in the pool. Water aerobics is an option, or you can play a pool version of something like volleyball. Paddleboarding is yet another exercise to try out! As a bonus, water exercises are easy on tender joints and backs.

You can also exercise in your own home. Thanks to various streaming options, yoga and pilates classes are available at the touch of a button. There are also a variety of exercise equipment options available if you’d like to purchase one.

However you choose to exercise during the hottest times of the summer, it’s critically important that you stay properly hydrated and avoid overheating yourself. If you start to experience symptoms of heat exhaustion like nausea, vomiting, headache, weakness, or confusion, STOP. And if you have any questions or concerns, it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor.