Stay Active with Your Friends This Summer

This summer I have been volunteering as the Communications Intern for the American Heart Association in New York City. This internship experience has exposed me to the importance of keeping my heart happy and healthy. This week I learned a lot about the positive relationship between exercising and having good heart health. Many people view the summer as a time to spend time with friends and it difficult to squeeze in exercise. However, being physically active expands further than just working out at the gym. There are so many fun activities for friends to do over the summer to stay active and healthy.

Here are some ways to have fun, spend time with friends, and stay active.

1. Go for a walk or a hike

Whether you’re walking down the beach or hiking through a green mountain trail, you are getting good exercise. Walking down a scenic trail is the perfect way to get fresh air and spend one on one time with a friend. It also makes you become more in touch with nature and your surroundings and help put your mind at ease. For some people, just one hour of walking can help increase life expectancy by two hours, increase energy, reduce the risk of cardiovascular activity and improve blood pressure.

2. Organize a sport or team activity

Competitive sports can be a lot of fun for a bunch of friends. Whether you are facing off one on one in a tennis match or going head to head in teams for a game of basketball, sports are a fun way to bond with your friends while staying active. The options for different sports you can play are endless. Find the sport that's right for you, go to the nearest park, court or field and challenge your group to some friendly competition this summer.

3. Take fitness classes

Taking a fitness class with a friend is a great way to motivate each other. It is always helpful to have a friend encouraging you when going through a tough workout. There are so many different types of fitness classes to match your desired exercise. If you want an intense workout look into kickboxing or cycling, or if you want a more low-key work out, look into yoga or pilates classes. Challenge your friends to better themselves.

Stay active with your friends this summer!