Todays "Creative" Workout

For a while now I've been wanting to do a fun, out-of-the-ordinary, just use-what's-around-the-farm kind of workout. Today was the day.

First I had to prepare the workout area (the barnyard) by taking the lawn mower and mowing a path about 4 swaths wide and roughly 25 yards long.

Then I organized the workout area. Equipment needed: one rototiller, one bale of hay, one long and heavy flagstone rock, one tractor with loader, one pair of work gloves.

After a 10 minute warm-up I was ready for three rounds of the following circuit.

Rototiller pushes (with the rototiller in neutral and not running, I pushed it once down the course and back again as fast as I could. My thighs were screaming by the end.)

Tractor Loader Pull-ups (8 pull-ups with overhand grip on the edge of the loader using gloves)

Bale jumps (Stand with bale of hay in front. Jump up on bale and back down, 10 times.)

Decline Bale Push-ups (put feet on bale of hay and do 15 push-ups)

Bale Planks (similar to Stability Ball Planks but a little easier since the bale is an immovable object. Hold pose for 45 seconds)

Flagstone Kettle-bell swings (A traditional Kettle-bell swing, but with a flagstone. 15 reps)

Hanging leg raises (underhand grip on loader with gloves, keep legs mostly straight and bring them up in front and back down with a controlled motion. 8 reps)

Rest one minute and repeat circuit 2 more times. Prepare for exhaustion!

This workout probably could have used a little more upper-body work. And next time I'll work a little harder on my form, since that's where the real gains are to be had. But it was a really fun challenge and also a great change of pace. It's also an example of how one can simply use whatever's available at the time for a really good workout wherever you are.