4 Fun Beach Workouts for the (California) Winter

Winter is coming, but that doesn't mean you have to hole up watching re-runs of Game of thrones and pile on the pounds. There is plenty of great stuff to keep active, even in the slightly colder days coming up. Two years ago after numerous 5k/10ks, 12 half marathons, and 6 full marathons, I hit a wall with my workouts.

I was completely burnt out from running and didn't even want to look at another treadmill. The thought of going for a 26 mile run ever again makes me want to just curl up in a ball. Since I have sworn off running, I have decided to add more "fun" workouts to my routine and since I am lucky enough to live in California most of those workouts include the beach. Here are my favorite ways to keep going to to the beach, and keeping fit even through the winter months:

Spikeball:

photo credit: Joshua Behan Photography

If you are competitive and love getting down and dirty then you will love Spikeball. I first saw the game on Shark Tank last season, and then I started noticing people playing it on the beach all the time. The game has actually been around since the 1980s but was resurrected in 2008 and is now included in P.E. classes, youth ministries, ultimate Frisbee groups, and college campuses. They even have Spikeball tournaments around the country.

The general rules are similar to volleyball, but you have two teams of two. Instead of a net you have a small trampoline like piece of equipment. You smack the palm-sized ball down on the trampoline-like net so it ricochets up at your opponents. Each team has up to three hits between them to control it and bounce it back to you. When they miss, you score. First team to 21 wins.

Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Yoga:

You have probably already heard of SUP, but did you know you can even do Yoga on a paddleboard? Taking your yoga practice to the ocean is not only good for your soul, but adds some serious fitness benefits that will leave you sore the next day. When you are doing yoga on a SUP, you are engaging your core muscles at all times in order to keep your balance while your paddleboard is in constant motion. My favorite (and most afforable paddleboard) is Tower Paddleboards. They are durable, lightweight and portable, they even rollup! So get out of that stuffy yoga room, grab a paddleboard and practice your poses on the ocean.

Waboba:

Have you ever wished you could bounce a ball on water?  Well, now you can with Waboba! If there are no waves at the beach for my handboard, I grab my Waboba and get a good workout just playing pass with my fiance. These balls bounce up to 25+ meters. Throw it side-armed and skip it across the water, throw over-hand to make it bounce higher, throw off a tip of a wave to go 15+ feet in the air - just spread out and play! If you want to make it more intense, grab your friends and organize teams of 4 with 1 person designated as a goalie. Players bounce the Waboba ball on the water to pass to team members or score points. Please share any other Waboba workouts you come up with. Cowboy our dog loves his Waboba ball too

Handboarding

Photo Credit: Meadow Rose Photography

Giving you extra speed and lift while riding a wave with your body. Handboards will help you body surf waves like a pro, allowing you to steer yourself on the wave, stay in the barrel of the wave longer and giving you a full-body workout.

The reason why men and women of all ages are drawn to handboarding is because it is so easy to learn that all fitness levels can try the sport. This amazing total-body workout improves your cardio fitness, core strength, and tones your arms and legs. Plus you are having so much fun, you hardly realize you are working out.

 I hope now you don't have to wake up early before your next trip to the beach to squeeze in an hour at the gym. Get your workout done at the beach and have fun doing it! for the not so lucky few that spend their winters in 8 feet of snow, don't feel left out Slyding down a mountain is great fun too or book yourself a ticket and get over here and join us in our pseudo-winter playground were keeping warm mean wearing socks with your flip flops