For the past month or so, I have found myself outside – a lot.

I mean, it is summer after all. Life’s adventures have led me to numerous beach visits with family. Bliss!

My aim was to sleep in, enjoy the slower pace of vacation while remaining active as best I could. This is where turning my environment into a gym became a common theme.

Our bodies are amazing machines themselves and, once we acknowledge this and practise this, there are no limits. Our environment plus our bodies and creativity can produce an amazing workout.

So, here I am at my tenth beach visit, determined to get in my 20-minute workout. I grabbed sand which I used as weights as I completed a round of Russian twists and then, with the knee-high water as resistance, completed a few sprints.

I then bear-crawled through the soft sand, which provided even more resistance. I made sure that I was honest with every effort and that I kept my form while completing my reps and sets. It’s necessary to be creative if you want to complete the task while being in the same environment as family.

Was my rest between sets longer than normal? Yes, because it involved playing, building sand turtles and the like, but I definitely continued to push myself, fully enjoying the twins and husband as they tried to join in.

Sometimes it’s important that you just don’t take yourself so seriously, that you enjoy life. Fitness and wellness is more than the undisturbed clanging and banging of weights. These beach sessions were so much fun as I juggled sand, water and twins. Fun!

So next time you find yourself at the beach and feel the urge to workout, take a look around you and let those creative juices flow. Have fun with it, get the family involved and just breathe.

Life will return to its normal hustle and bustle, clanging and banging but in the meantime, have a little fun with your movement. Who knows, you might even find yourself on a catamaran cruise, sipping a rum punch and completing a full 15-minute workout before jumping overboard. No? Just us? Lol, OK then.

Have a great Wednesday fitfam. Whatever you decide to do, remain unapologetic about your journey, honest with your efforts and true to yourself!

Dre Hinds is a retired track and field athlete who is now a personal trainer, aerobic and yoga instructor and fitness “addict”. Contact her on: absbydre@gmail.com, 599-0412 or @Absbydre on Facebook and Instagram