There are many reasons why people love the great outdoors, including the fact that it’s the perfect setting for exercise. Whether you’re doing downward dog on a dock or getting in peak shape in the park, being outside is a great mood booster. Several instructors and studios offer outdoor classes in Oakville and Burlington.

If you’re looking to break out of the standard indoor gym setting, especially now that it’s nice outside, try participating in an outdoor class. “I think it’s better to be outside,” says Chris Boucher, owner of Custom Fitness in Burlington. His classes are held at various locations within the city and he loves to incorporate the natural and structural elements of the park into his instruction, including hills, stairs and picnic tables. “The openness and the fresh air of the park is a much happier atmosphere.” He also likes to set up stations with standard exercise equipment such as medicine balls and stretching bands. “Depending on where I am I’ll cater the workout to what’s available to me.” He employs different methods for variety, such as the ‘MOM’ workout (Minute on the Minute); each exercise lasts for 60 seconds. “The workout is generally set up by time, not number of repetitions,” he explains. Alternately, if it’s reps you’re after, he also does AMRAP (As Many Rounds as Possible) classes.

Lisa Newman, Supervisor of Health and Fitness at the YMCA of Oakville agrees that fitness al fresco is ideal. “It’s always good to spend time outdoors and be more physical,” she says. “You can do (practically) anything outdoors that you can do in a gym. For example, the YMCA offers a Nordic Pole Walking Course. The class takes you on a walk through downtown Oakville, and the trails that are accessible near the YMCA.  She says the pole walking is good for posture because you stand up straight and by planting the pole onto a hard surface you’re activating the upper body muscles.

Chances are, if you’re willing to put up with the odd grass stain you’ll be rewarded on many levels. Exercising outdoors just might ‘work out’ for you.

Outdoor Classes in Oakville:

Nordic Pole Walking
Where: YMCA of Oakville
Nordic Pole Walking will pump up your cardio by increasing oxygen consumption, reduce stress to your knees and lower joints, and improve posture while strengthening your upper body to create resistance and build better bone density.
ymcaofoakville.org

Boot Camp
Where: Oakville & Mississauga
Indoor and boot camp classes are offered based on the seasons and weather. Classes are designed to exercise the whole body, enabling you to train less often but still get great results.
sweatshopunion.ca

Fitness Boot Camp
Where: Oakville & Burlington
You’re invited to a total-body workout that builds strength and aerobic capacity at the same time. Classes are held in Burlington and Oakville.
iluvthis.ca

Outdoor Classes in Burlington:

Fit in the Core
Where: Civic Square, Downtown Burlington
Open-air fitness every Sunday — free of charge. There’s a different class each week, such as yoga, belly dancing, Pilates, interval training and more. All you need to bring is a mat and water bottle.
burlingtondowntown.ca/feature/fit-in-the-core

Burlington Body Camp
Where: Sidrabene Camp & Retreat Centre
No two classes are ever alike. At each session you’ll get a full-body workout that combines cardiovascular and resistance training, plus core strengthening and body sculpting.
burlingtonbodycamp.com

Yoga in the Park
Where: Rattlesnake Point
Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or a beginner, experienced teachers from Moksha Yoga will guide you through your yoga practice. Bring your own mat, water and insect repellant.
conservationhalton.ca

Various programs
Where: LaSalle Park
Yoga and group fitness classes for busy people who are looking to get in the best shape possible.
customfitness.ca

by Becky Dumais

There are so many well-documented benefits to bicycling, it really is a mystery why we’re not all out there right now pedaling to our heart’s content — and for our health. Aside from increased cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength and flexibility, cycling also leads to improved joint mobility and decreased stress levels. It’s affordable, easy and most of all, fun. Plus, there are plenty of local organizations available to help you get going, whether you’re looking for a social network for day trips and fun outings, longer rides or even more serious competitions. In other words, ready, set, PEDAL.

Whether you’re based in Oakville, Burlington, Milton or the outskirts, there are many different clubs and organizations that offer different events, including casual weekly rides, competitions and even incredible charity events that give back to the community and those in need.

The Oakville Cycling Club is a non-competitive, recreational club that offers a friendly environment for recreational road riding, training, touring and cyclocross. An Ontario Cycling Association (OCA) member Club, it offers a wide selection of rides throughout the western GTA, including Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Halton Hills and beyond.

The OCA offers various levels of involvement. As a rider you can stay independent and participate in the many regional and weekly events that are hosted throughout the year. BMX specific riders can join a local track and participate in weekly events.

The Halton Outdoor Club understands that riding with others is both more enjoyable and safer than riding alone. The Club provides two cycling programs: road cycling and trail cycling. Road cyclists travel on secondary scenic roads while trail cyclists look for trails dedicated to non-vehicular traffic. Most road rides are concentrated in the Halton region while most of the trail rides take place a little farther away, such as in Hamilton, Niagara or Brantford. “We have two cycling groups doing different outings, either with weekend rides or entire weekend excursions,” says club manager Bonnie Quinn. “We’ve been to Holland and the Montreal area, among other places.”

Helmets are mandatory on all rides, traffic regulations are followed and they ride single file, rather than in a tight pack. Cyclists are encouraged to know how to fix a flat tire and to bring the equipment required in making simple repairs.

The Share the Road Cycling Coalition is a provincial cycling advocacy organization dedicated to building a bicycle-friendly Ontario. They work in partnership with municipal, provincial and federal governments, the business community, road safety organizations and other non-profits to enhance access for bicyclists on roads and trails, improve safety for all bicyclists, and educate citizens on the value and importance of safe bicycling for healthy lifestyles and healthy communities. Share the Road began in memory of OPP Sergeant Greg Stobbart, the husband of founder Eleanor McMahon, who was killed in a cycling tragedy in June 2006.

Share the Road works to engineer legislative change in Ontario, unite cycling organizations from across the province and work with and on behalf of municipalities to enhance their ability to make their communities more bicycle-friendly.

So, if you’re looking for an awesome, life-affirming exercise that provides more health benefits than you imagine, plus social interaction and a wonderful way to give back to those in need, cycling opportunities in our area are plentiful and provide you with all that and so much more.

“When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.”  ~ Arthur Conan Doyle

Upcoming Events

May 20

Women’s Ride Day
ontariocycling.org

June 10

Tour de Grand
Where: Duncan McIntosh Arena, Churchill Park
200 Christopher Drive, Cambridge
cambridgetourdegrand.com

June 24

Wheels Benefitting
the Darling Home for Kids
Where: Mattamy National Cycling Centre, 2015 Pan Am Blvd., Milton
ridewithwheels.ca

June 24

Tour de Guelph
Where: University of Guelph W.F. Mitchell Athletics Centre
aimee@puthon.com

July 15

Tour de Norfolk
Where: Norfolk County, located in Southern Ontario on the north shore of Lake Erie.
letourdenorfolk.com

by Allison Dempsey