Summer is Coming! And I've found the perfect spot to train you guys. Get ready to feel inspired by nature in the city!

​Yes. It. Is! It may not feel like it this week in Paris but summer is indeed on it's way! I'm gearing up for a lot of outdoor sessions with clients in Paris and plan on taking full advantage of the beautiful parks, riverside and city in general. I love working outside as every landscape provides an abundance of unique and natural training equipment.
I went for a run the other day and came across the most beautiful park. Maybe you know it? It's called Parc André Citröen. I have been living in the 15ème for nearly 6 months now and have to say I was almost embarrassed to not have come across this park or even know of it's existence until now! Still better late than never! And, in my defence, I haven't done a huge amount of running over winter due to an ankle injury in November.

I thought I'd mix it up and take a different route for my run. I usually run down by the river for the ever-changing scenery and ease of route. I hate running on the streets where you can't switch off as you constantly need to dodge tourists and cross roads. However, my ankle is still healing and a bit stiff so I didn't want to run too far in one direction but to do a small loop, up to the river and back around to my house. I turned the corner and came across these simply stunning views and it literally stopped me in my tracks. You don't imagine such nature and beauty in the middle of such a densely populated city.

The Park

It has a beautiful wide open grassy area, landscaped flowering gardens, quiet spaces of tranquility, cool wooded sections and stunning water features all surrounded by these huge glass buildings making it seem even more beautiful. There are even bench sun loungers which I'm sure will be hard to come by as we move towards the summer months and a balloon that you can pay to go up in which I assume has an amazing view at the top. I ran past couples lazing in the sun, people admiring the flowering gardens and students propped up studying against the building walls.

I ran round and round and ended up doing a spot of interval training. Not on purpose but I just had to keep stopping and taking photos of all the stunning different views as i discovered them. Then off I'd go again! There were circuits, hills to sprint up and plenty of solid edges for booty work. I couldn't help but start mentally planning programmes for clients and testing out exercises on my new free equipment! Ever the opportunist! I even found a shady spot of solitude to stretch in feeling like I was in my own private, secret garden. I finished off with a juice at the park café which also serves delicious fresh salads and sandwiches and left with spring in my heart.

I am nothing short of in love with the place and plan to spend many a lazy summer afternoon sprawled out on the grass or working up a sweat training you guys in the sunshine. You will LOVE it!

So if this blog and my photos inspire you and this sounds like the kind of place you'd like to train all summer I invite you to start booking your sessions today to avoid disappointment- I am only one person after all!

Author Caroline Roy

Caroline is The Saint Trainer a certified personal trainer based in Paris, France