For people seeking their fitness fix outside, the greater Charleston area abounds with outdoor exercise opportunities. Some workout options are even found on or near the water and offer picturesque views in a serene setting. There are ample parks and green spaces – and even a rooftop fitness area – where you can take advantage of the Lowcountry’s warm, subtropical climate, which is conducive to outdoor exercise most of the year.
Besides the physical benefits, exercising in a natural environment can boost your mental health. According to the National Fitness Campaign, a wellness consulting firm working to build healthy communities in America, “green exercise” can lead to improved mood, reduced stress, increased mindfulness, improved self-esteem and better sleep. Even just five minutes a day of green exercise has been shown to improve mental well-being.
Charleston County Parks & Recreation Commission Public Information Coordinator Sarah Reynolds said that places such as James Island County Park offer numerous outdoor exercise alternatives, including miles of paved and unpaved trails for walking, running, biking or skating; a 50-foot-tall climbing wall; the Challenge Course, a physically challenging group team-building experience; a sand volleyball court; and open meadows for play or activities.
Additionally, pedal boat, kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals for exploring the park’s lake and waterways are available at the boat launch. CCPRC also hosts Sunrise Yoga four times a year at different locations, including Caw Caw Interpretive Center and Folly Beach County Park in April, the Mount Pleasant Pier in August and Kiawah Beachwalker Park in September. For more information, visit ccprc.com/3634/Sunrise-Yoga.
Located on Charleston’s upper peninsula, 60-acre Hampton Park has a physical fitness trail with 1.5 miles of paths for walking, running and biking. The park, which is open from sunrise to sunset, also includes an outdoor fitness station.
The MUSC Wellness Center offers a rooftop exercise and training area consisting of an outdoor track; two tennis courts that are also used for pickleball; a full basketball court; and a functional training area, according to Assistant Fitness Director Galen Bennett.
The functional training area is equipped with two 100-foot sled lanes; a tire flip zone; painted agility dots and ladders; pull-up bars; parallel bars; battle ropes; and heavy bags for boxing. It also features more traditional pieces of equipment such as kettle bells, dumbbells, medicine balls, resistance bands, jump ropes and exercise mats, Bennett shared.
“Some of our group exercise classes and promotional classes such as Strength Circuits and Athlete Reboot will utilize the functional training area for class, depending upon the weather,” he said. “The classes will reserve the training area for an hour during the scheduled class time, but, besides that, the rooftop is always open to members and guests.”
Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park at the foot of the Ravenel Bridge is undergoing a new phase of development that includes an outdoor workout area, a walking path and pickleball and basketball courts. Check with the town of Mount Pleasant for opening dates. Of course, you can always take the multi-use path that traverses the Ravenel Bridge and experience spectacular views of Charleston Harbor while you run, walk or bike across its span.
Park West Recreation Complex has an outdoor track and walking trails, and the adjacent Laurel Hill County Park features several miles of unpaved running, walking and biking trails. The town of Mount Pleasant also has begun construction of the path system for Mount Pleasant Way, a shared-use path network that ultimately will include 47 miles of dedicated space for everyone from joggers to in-line skaters to wheelchair users. Several segments are complete, including Watermark Boulevard, Hospital Drive, Sweetgrass Basket Parkway and Vaughn Ed Kee Parkway. Mount Pleasant Way will operate as a linear park, according to James Aton, the town’s deputy director for capital projects and transportation.
The Isle of Palms Recreation Center provides a seven-station outdoor workout area. The Fitness Court, an adaptive body weight circuit training system, features seven movements for everyday health: core, squat, push, lunge, pull, agility and bend. IOP Rec is scheduled to launch a Boot Camp class in March at the Fitness Court starting at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays and geared toward enhancing cardio and strength, said Recreation Director Karrie Ferrell.
The IOP Rec Center also hosts free beach yoga classes, open to residents and visitors of all fitness levels, every Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. from May through October at the 25th Avenue beach access. At the same location, at 7:30 a.m. on the second Thursday of the month from May to November, the Recreation Department holds free Sea Stroll & Learn educational walks.
Daniel Island has more than 400 acres of green space and parks throughout the community. The Daniel Island Recreation Center features trails and bike paths as well. For a scenic walk, run or bike ride, take the Daniel Island Trail, a 1.5-mile path that winds along the Wando River.
These are only a sample of the outdoor exercise opportunities available locally. So get outside and enjoy some sunshine and fresh air while staying fit. Your body and mind will thank you.
Additional sources: nationalfitnesscampaign.com/news/5-ways-outdoor-exercise-benefits-your-mental-health; sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100502080414.htm.
By Colin McCandless
