By Andrea Parkinson, New York Personal Trainer

You know those monkey bars on the playground- the ladders that are raised horizontally off the ground? They are designed for the tight wiry bodies of children to traverse. It’s by no means an easy endeavor, even for an athletic child. The exercise involves grip, coordination from the core and momentum. Do you think you’ve grown out of trying to cross one yourself?

When was the last time you climbed up a ladder and gone down a slide again and again and again? Did you call it cardio when you did? How about hopscotch? Do you remember the exertion of jumping from one square to the other, landing one foot and hinging from your hip to reclaim your thrown stick? Did you call it agility training back then?

Of course, playgrounds are for kids. Kids are low to the ground to begin with. Their joints are only just forming. As adults, we have a bit more to consider before launching ourselves onto a climbing wall. But what if you could return to the playground and master some of those old wonders as part of your training program?

As an experienced trainer and mommy, I have enjoyed some of my best workouts in the playgrounds of Brooklyn and Manhattan. My clients have also had a lot of fun being outdoors and safely revisiting some of the joys of being youthful.

Come join me!