Why exercising by the beach is hard

Yes, running up and down in the sand is not for everyone, but here’s why it should be.

Every day I train clients on the beach and I know just how difficult it is, in the sun, with the warm, heavy sand dragging at your feet as you run, squat and jump. Because I am aware of the risks of sun stroke, heat stroke and dehydration I try to schedule the times for early morning and late afternoons.

Despite this, training my clients at the beach as been one of the most rewarding aspects of my own fitness journey as I have learned a lot about the importance of balance and stability when it comes to exercising at the beach.

When it comes to performing basic exercises, I’ve learned to incorporate more mindfulness when it comes to foot placement and posture, as the sand can cause one to lose footing and slip out of a proper exercise position. Through learning this my client’s have learned to be more aware of their body’s, their posture and in doing so find themselves coming back for more training as well as becoming more mobile. I find it so incredible that the smallest changes to fitness increases the ability to perform any exercise with greater ease.

My clients are even looking more toned, faster than I thought possible but I’ve realized that the difficulty of the environment we train in, as well as correct posture and enough stretching has allowed my clients to become more stronger, healthier and fitter than perhaps even me and I love that for them!

Squats, jogging, weightlifting and stretching all occur during the personal and group training classes and I’ve found that the most common places to adjust and modify is to watch the placement of the feet in alignment with the hips or shoulders; making sure the knees never extend over the toes; watching that the shoulders are not being tensed during running or lifting weights as well as making sure to stop if you notice pain or feel something isn’t feeling quite right.

I also let my clients know that they can choose to exercise with shoes on, or off but to watch out for seashells. I recommend a large water bottle and a bottle of sunscreen. I also like to remind them that sand will and does get anywhere possible so if irritation occurs, bring beach towels as well as sweat towels and try to wear something flowy but not too large that it gets in the way of exercising. Tight clothing also works, though it seems to trap more sand in which can cause an itchy sensation.

Many of my client’s enjoy the rewarding feeling of having trained in such a difficult environment only to find themselves stronger for it at the end of every day. I feel that if you are looking for a way to push yourself, then beach training is for you. I do recommend it, because the view and ocean breeze are the best workout companions!