Your Summer Sweat Sesh: What NOT to SKIP!

Written By: Amanda Brelage, NASM-CPT, Pn1, AFPA CHN

Sheewwweeyyy! Summer 2026 is here!  That means warmer temperatures, more humidity, and a lot of sun… so we may feel the need to consider tailoring our workouts to account for the weather, while still getting the most out of them.

When you go to train outside this summer, don’t forget to include your strength training, balance work and stretches! 

The “great outdoors” is so wonderful, and as summer comes and spring dissipates, we see more ‘regular’ weather with fewer cold fronts and fewer rainy days.  This can help us find ourselves outside more doing yard work, hiking, getting our walks and runs outside instead of on treadmills… there are so many different options when we can go outside! 

The most important things to consider as you take your workouts outside include: temperature, hydration, sun exposure, and variation of exercise.   

Workout inside?  Be careful about going from hot to cold or hot to cold too quickly. Even if you’re using air conditioning and/or fans, you still need to prioritize water intake before, during, and after your workout.

Hot weather can result in a general decrease in apetite, but our bodies need fuel to workout and cool properly.

It’s also time to go shopping or reunite with your summer wardrobe! Staying cool and dry as much as possible can be much more manageable with breathable, appropriate workout attire.  

While hiking is splendid exercise, take shade opportunities and uneven terrain into consideration.

You also might consider completing your workout earlier or later in the day to protect you from the extreme heat and or sun. 

Remember all of your ‘accessory’ work… we want our supporter muscles strong so that when we get tired (which may happen more quickly than we’re used to with the heat) that we can be stable and not get injured! 

Consider rest days, as recovery is the other key to your success. You might take an extra rest day on an especially hot day or move your workout indoors, into the water for a cooler/more comfortable option.