It’s hot, hot, hot... and one of the many things you might be thinking about (along with where you can buy a fan and how you can cool off your bedroom) is exercise. Is it best left altogether in a heatwave? Or can you adapt your routine by training in a different way?

‘With temperatures rising, my biggest piece of advice is to train smarter, not harder,’ says Sheridan Smith’s personal trainer, Tom Brown, founder of luxury fitness retreat 1st Class Bootcamp. ‘Exercising in the heat can be fantastic for both physical and mental wellbeing, but it’s important to respect the conditions and listen to your body.’

Tom’s top heatwave training tips

• Train at cooler times of the day: Early mornings or later in the evening are ideal. I always advise clients to avoid the hottest part of the day, typically between 11am and 3pm.

• Hydration is key: Make sure you’re well hydrated before you start, sip water regularly during exercise and rehydrate afterwards. For longer or more intense sessions, replacing electrolytes can also be beneficial.

• Adjust the intensity: Heat puts extra stress on the body, so don’t be afraid to slow the pace, increase rest periods or shorten sessions. I often tell clients that consistency is more important than pushing for personal bests during a heatwave.

• Dress appropriately: Lightweight, breathable clothing and sun protection are essential when training outdoors.

• Listen to your body: If you begin to feel dizzy, nauseous, develop a headache or feel unusually fatigued, stop immediately, move into the shade and cool down.

sports water bottle on the lawn
Ekaterina savyolova//Getty Images

‘With many of my celebrity clients, we often adapt training sessions during hotter weather by moving workouts to earlier in the day, incorporating more recovery time and focusing on quality of movement rather than intensity,’ says Tom.

And he has one final piece of advice. ‘I always say: training in the heat isn’t about pushing harder; it’s about training smarter. Stay hydrated, adjust your expectations and listen to your body, The goal is always to leave a session feeling energised, not exhausted.’