With summer just around the corner, the birds have been chirping, the sun has been shining down on southwest Michigan and our trails and parks have been filled with people flocking to get outdoors after a harsh winter and a rain-heavy springtime.

To me, this time of year is the best to get back into the habit of being active. Though I love to hike and walk, I hate going to the gym in the wintertime. I would much rather curl up with glass of wine and my Netflix account than trek through the snow to spend my evening in an overcrowded, sweaty gym.

However, by the time the summer rolls around, I’m ready to get outside and get active — something about feeling the sun on your back and the grass beneath your feet that makes working out a little more bearable.

One of my personal favorite ways to get outside and be active during the summer season is to take a fitness class outdoors. Luckily, communities across Michiana are offering several outdoor fitness classes to help us all be active.

In Dowagiac, Hidden Acres Petting Farm has brought back its popular goat yoga classes on Wednesdays and Saturdays. This class is great for animal lovers because not only do you get a chance to exercise and stretch your muscles, you get to see and play with adorable baby goats.

Niles is also offering a chance to get in on the summer fitness fun. Starting June 10, the Niles-Buchanan YMCA will be offering free fitness classes at Niles’ Riverfront Park. At 10:10 a.m. Mondays, the YMCA will be offering pound classes. On Wednesdays, WERQ will be offered at 10:10 a.m. and Zumba at 6:30 p.m. Friday, the organization will offer yoga at 9:10 a.m.

If you are willing to cross state lines, downtown South Bend will also be offering outdoor fitness classes at 8, 9 and 10 a.m. Saturdays as part of DTSB and Beacon Health’s summer fitness series. On the Gridrion between South Bend Chocolate Café and Double Tree, the series will offer a variety of classes including yoga, barre and kickboxing.

These are all sure to be fun classes to get people out into the sunshine, and it is great to see these types of classes happening in our small communities. I certainly will be planning to attend of few and will hope to see you there!

SARAH CULTON, is the managing editor at Leader Publications. She can be reached by phone at (269) 687-7712 or by email at sarah.culton@leaderpub.com