As the weather warms up (spring is finally here! hooray!) most people are naturally inclined to want to spend more time outside. After months of being cooped up indoors and buried under layers of sweats and blankets, we naturally crave sunshine, fresh air and lighter shoes! Spring is the perfect time to take your fitness routine outside, and while walking and jogging are easy, affordable options, there are a lot of other ways to get active outside.

1. Go hiking. Find a state park or nearby mountain/canyon and get your hike on! Just remember to wear sturdy, supportive shoes, layers to adjust for your changing temperature and sunblock. If you’re going to make a full day of it, bring plenty of water and snacks, such as nuts or a meal replacement bar.
2. Go whitewater rafting. I went rafting for the first time in 2008, and it was a blast! There are companies all over the country that can set you up with everything you need: the raft, paddles and a knowledgeable guide. Get together a group of friends and tackle the rapids – just be sure to wear quick-dry clothing!
3. If high-speed paddling isn’t your scene, try a canoe trip instead. You can canoe down rivers and creeks and take advantage of the current, or paddle in lazy circles around a lake. Bring along a buddy to help man the oars.
4. Go swimming. Find a public pool, a lake, or head to the beach (but watch out for dangerous critters!) and dive in. Swimming is a fantastic, low-impact way to torch a ton of calories. You can use pool lanes to do laps, or take advantage of the open water at the lake/ocean to add a little extra resistance.
5. Rent a jet-ski! If you are at a lake or the beach, grab some friends and spend a day riding jet skis. If you go as a group you can split the cost of the rental; plus it’s more fun to ride tandem, taking turns being the passenger and the driver. Just be sure to wear your swimsuit or board shorts — you’re almost guaranteed to fall off at least once.
6. If water sports aren’t your thing, stick to dry land on a bike. Lots of parks and recreation areas offer bike trails, and it’s much easier to get distance on two wheels than on two feet. Spend two or three hours biking and you can easily log 30 miles. Just be sure to wear proper clothing and a helmet — and be prepared for sore buns the next day!
7. Play like a kid again. Pack some water and snacks and head to a nearby park. Spend a few hours (or the whole day) just playing. You can try frisbee or soccer, or for equipment-free fun, revisit games from your childhood: tag, red light green light, hide and seek, etc. Finish the afternoon off with a picnic!
8. If you like your outdoor games to be a bit more organized, try an outdoor sport. Take up golfing, or join an adult softball league. You’ll have planned workouts, get to meet like-minded locals and maybe even be rewarded with a championship trophy.
9. If you live anywhere near the mountains (or feel like driving to some), give ziplining a try. Guides will teach you the basics, and then you’ll hike up the mountain and zipline your way back down. You’ll be rewarded with fantastic views, the wind in your hair and the exhilaration of flying down the mountain. (And, yes, that’s me in the photo, ziplining through the Texas hill country last November.)
10. Take up gardening. Go outside, rake up any remaining leaves, turn over the soil, embellish the landscape, grow your own food  — the possibilities are limitless. And in the end, you’ll be rewarded with a nicer yard, and healthy fresh, veggies. It’s win-win!

So what about you? How do you like to spend your outdoor time in the spring? Do you have other suggestions to add to this list?

I like this slideshow from Fitsugar on yoga poses that tone and strengthen the upper body. These are some challenging poses (crow, headstand, sage), but that’s good — challenge is good for the soul (and the triceps)!

When I was in college (11 years ago!), I was diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma. Essentially, this means that I don’t have normal asthma attacks, but I can be prone to them when I work out. The doctor’s solution was to give me an Albuterol inhaler and send me on my way. However, the inhaler never really helped me with my lung capacity, and the Albuterol made me jittery, so I quit using it. Now I simply focus on building my lung strength via cardio and doing slower-paced exercises that don’t strain my lungs as much. If you are a fellow asthma sufferer, here are some tips I found on Fitsugar to help:

Exercise during times of the day when your breathing is at its best. If you tend to wake up not being able to breathe, then a pre-work run may not be the best idea for you.

Don’t forget the warm-up. Going right into a 10-mile bike ride may be too much for your lungs.

Avoid exercise that makes you out of breath.

Along the same lines, avoid extreme interval training, especially if you suffer from exercise-induced asthma. While moving at different paces is OK when it comes to your breathing, you don’t want to move too fast so that you’re huffing and puffing and taxing your respiratory system. Stick to consistent speeds, or if you like varying your speeds, just do so at a pace that your lungs can keep up with.

Always keep water nearby to stay hydrated. It’s also good to sip in case you start to wheeze or feel a tickle in your throat.

Many people who suffer from asthma experience runny noses when exercising, so be sure to keep tissues on hand.

For exercise-induced asthma, my doctor recommended that I take a puff of Albuterol (rescue inhaler) before exercise to open my airways and prevent an attack. Talk to your doctor to see if they recommend that for you as well.

If cold weather triggers your asthma, exercise indoors in the Winter months. If you’re determined to exercise outside, start off slow. Run a few minutes outdoors at first, and gradually build up your time to let your lungs get used to it. Also, wearing a neck warmer, scarf, or other protective layer over your nose and mouth may prevent symptoms, since it keeps the air you’re breathing moist. Dry air tends to cause a burning feeling and can trigger an attack.

Don’t avoid exercise. If you’re worried that working out may trigger an attack, find a low-impact type of movement that’s easy on your lungs such as walking or yoga.

I have two: Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose or Cobbler’s Pose) and Viparita Karani (Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose).

My mile challenge has been put on hold due to a knee injury. I’ve had to take the past few days off, but I’m hoping to start back soon…