5 Fun Ways to Work on Your Summer Body

Winter months in Southern California may be a bit cooler than the summer ones, but there’s still plenty you can do outdoors to work on your “summer body.” After all, in a mostly warm climate year-round, your summer body is really your all-year-long body. Here are five fun ways to get in shape while also getting some sun.

Go Kayaking

Explore various kayaking spots in SoCal in the winter, including harbors and bays in Dana Point, Newport Beach, Marina del Rey, and Mission Bay. Since air and water temperatures rarely drop too low, you can kayak year-round, with or without a wetsuit. If you’re adventurous enough, ocean kayaking is also an option. Try a tour with San Diego Bike and Kayak Tours, which offer a 20-minute paddle to the magical seven sea caves in La Jolla. 

Hike

Why spend an hour staring at your TV on a treadmill, tediously counting down the minutes, when you could take in the outdoors on one of SoCal’s amazing hikes? From the scenic walking paths of Torrey Pines State Reserve to Inspiration Point in Santa Barbara, you have so many hikes to choose from in the mild winter months, most offering sprawling views of the coast or city sights.

Do Yoga on the Beach

Not ready to try naked yoga? Maybe start with yoga in your swimsuit. In Santa Monica, stretch on the sand in the Beach Yoga with Brad class, led by yoga veteran Brad Keimach. YOGAqua lets you combine a love for paddle boarding with sun salutations in their SUP yoga classes. In San Diego, practice yoga on the beach for free or by donation at these classes.

Cycle

Sure, everybody’s cycling indoors these days with places like SoulCycle and Sync (which are definitely a lot of fun, especially on rainy days), but there’s nothing like a real bike ride outdoors. Try out The Strand in LA, a 22-mile bike path that stretches from Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades to Torrance County Beach. You’ll pass through Santa Monica, Venice, and Manhattan Beach on the way. Or bike through Rincon State Park in Ventura, where you might see a dolphin or two in the nearby Pacific. The Pacific Beach Boardwalk in San Diego allows you to ride a rollercoaster when you need a break.

Go Paddle Boarding

You may need a wetsuit on chillier days but not all days. Paddleboarding is always a go in winter months throughout Southern California. Head to the calm waters of Mission Bay in San Diego or check out the Paddle Method in Los Angeles’s Marina del Rey, where you can paddle under the moon or say hello to sea lions while working on your core.

Keep in mind that even on the gloomiest days, the sun’s UV rays can still affect you, so protect yourself while at work on your summer body. Always wear sunscreen and your favorite UV-resistant sunglasses.

Written by Erica Garza for Knockaround