An Equinox gym I passed in NYC had a picture in the window of an athlete performing pushups and an athlete performing an L-sit. I was walking to John Jay park on 77 st to get a quick workout in.

I am not sure how much Equinox charges, but the park is free.

John Jay park is pretty much on the East River, affording a great view on the crisp and clear spring morning. It has everything you need for a workout; pull-up bars, parallel bars, monkey bars, rubber mats, and park benches. With a set of rings the possibilities are endless.

Walking into the park, there was already someone working out on a set of rings hung over the monkey bars. He introduced himself and we talked about working out outdoors. He told me to feel free and use the rings. Perfect.

He gave me the lowdown on a few of the outdoor parks in NYC while others strolled in to start their training.

The outdoor fitness culture is alive and well in NYC. Men and women hit the parks every day and are getting in sick shape, (check out Barstarz http://barstarzz.com) It is encouraging. The largest and one of the most expensive cities in the world has several free fitness parks scattered throughout. Who says nothing in life is free?

Running back to my hotel I thought about the pictures in the Equinox window. Why would a gym filled with equipment have pictures of athletes performing calisthenics? This falls in line with other questions I have; why do people take the elevator in a hotel to go to the fitness center and then get on the stair master? Why do people go to a gym in NYC in which you walk everywhere, just to get on the treadmill? I digress…

Calisthenics are the effective evolution of training. The era of the machines helped us understand how to build muscle and now we have moved on. Outdoor bodyweight training is the outcome - simple, efficient, and effective.

Below are a few ideas on starting your own outdoor fitness movement.

Start a weekend outdoor training club with a few friends.
Complete weekly outdoor challenges that include calisthenics, running, jumping, crawling, etc. Or just do the Murph challenge every week. Your imagination is the only limiting factor.
Take your kids to local parks and playgrounds. Workout while they play.
Race your dog, uphill, repeatedly.
Look on the internet for local fitness parks. Go train there.
Look at structures and think about how it could be used for exercising. Handrails for bodyweight rows, bike racks as dip bars, etc. Try them out.

Take action, find a park by you, get some friends together and go train!

Parallel bars and pull-up bars at John Jay Park in NYC