Summer fitness trends to try

6 Summer Fitness Trends Worth Trying (and How to Bring Them to Work)

Summer is the perfect time to shake up your routine. Longer days and warm weather make it easier to try something new – and to bring colleagues along. Here are six summer fitness trends worth trying, who they suit and how to turn them into a team activity at work.

Table of Contents

1. Outdoor Group Workouts

Group workout

Park boot camps, outdoor yoga, running clubs and beach workouts combine fresh air with the motivation of a group. Exercising together makes it easier to show up, and time in green spaces brings extra benefits for stress and mood – see the health benefits of spending time in nature.

At work: organize a weekly lunchtime or after-work session in a nearby park.

2. HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training)

HIIT boxing

HIIT alternates short bursts of hard effort with brief recovery. A session can take 15–20 minutes and still improve cardiovascular fitness, which makes it ideal for busy schedules. It can be done with bodyweight exercises, kettlebells or sprints – but in summer heat, keep sessions short, train in the cooler part of the day and listen to your body. Beginners should start with gentler intervals.

At work: count HIIT sessions as exercise minutes in a team challenge.

3. Strength Training

Strength training has become one of the most popular fitness trends, and for good reason: muscle strength supports healthy aging, posture and everyday energy. The WHO recommends muscle-strengthening activity at least twice a week. Bodyweight exercises such as squats, push-ups and planks need no equipment at all.

At work: try a plank challenge or the 100 push-up club.

4. Mindful Movement

mindful

Yoga, Pilates and tai chi combine movement with breathing and attention. They build flexibility and strength while helping people switch off – perfect in a shady park on a summer evening.

At work: run a yoga challenge or a mindfulness challenge.

5. Water Workouts

water workout

Swimming, aqua aerobics and paddleboarding keep you cool while working the whole body. Water supports your weight, which makes these workouts gentle on the joints and a good choice for people recovering from injuries.

At work: make sure swimming counts in your challenge – for example through exercise minutes or a points system. See how YuMuuv's point system works.

6. Wearables and App-Based Challenges

virtual training

Wearable technology has repeatedly topped the American College of Sports Medicine's annual survey of fitness trends. Smartwatches and phones make it easy to track steps, workouts and sleep – and app-based challenges add the social motivation that keeps people going. Read why wearable data works best with social motivation.

At work: launch a summer step challenge or a virtual journey with a distance challenge.

  1. Pick one or two trends that suit your team rather than all six.
  2. Make everything count – use exercise minutes or points so swimmers, cyclists and yogis can all join.
  3. Use consistency goals so holidays do not exclude anyone.
  4. Share photos of park workouts and swims in the challenge chat.
  5. Keep it safe – share tips for exercising in the heat.

Looking for more? See 12 summer wellness challenges for the office and our latest workplace wellness trends.

8. Frequently Asked Questions

Outdoor group workouts, HIIT, strength training, mindful movement such as yoga, water workouts and wearable-based challenges.

8.2. What is the best summer workout in hot weather?

Swimming and other water workouts, or any workout done early in the morning or in the evening when it is cooler.

Run a summer challenge where all activity types count. Book a demo and we will help you set it up.