words Al Woods
Research says that the number one reason people don’t exercise regularly is because of a lack of time. But everyone will make time to enjoy themselves – doing something fun! So why not make your workouts more enjoyable, more exciting, and more exhilarating? Rediscovering the joy of movement is the key to integrating more activity into your life.
Try Something Different Like Ice Skating
Tired of your routine jog around the block followed by a strenuous workout in the gym or on the yoga mat? Add some spice to your exercise time by taking up or rekindling a hobby like ice skating. Skating engages nearly every muscle group in the body, and gliding necessitates synchronized leg action, which is essential for joint flexibility. It strengthens the leg and abdominal muscles as well. Skating, like any other workout, is good for cardiovascular health because it gets the blood moving and the heart rate up. Learning to skate also boosts self-confidence, and after a long week at work, meeting friends at the rink or meeting new people is a terrific way to relax and destress.
To get started, invest in a pair of great quality figure skates that provide support to the foot and ankle. Aside from skates, make sure you have a pair of gloves to protect your hands during falls, dress in warm moveable clothing, and get some pads and a helmet if they make you feel more comfortable.
Dancercise
Keen to move away from the regular types of exercise? Why not take up dancing as a way to keep fit and socialize at the same time? Dancing is a terrific way to stay in shape, and there’s a style for everyone. Ballroom, salsa, African, folk, and line dancing are some of the most popular dance styles with belly dancing, hula hooping, clogging, and tap dancing being more adventurous options.
Capoeira is a unique blend of dancing and martial arts developed in Brazil, which is worth a try. Capoeira is a full-body, high-intensity workout. It’s a mix of aerobic movement that requires flexibility and coordination. This martial art form requires the use of music, which not only determines the speed, but also serves as a link to the martial art’s culture and history. For your first few classes, you can wear comfortable clothing to work out in, but thereafter you may need to invest in the uniform or attire of your particular group.
Get On the Water
Swimming is a great full-body workout that is also gentle on the joints. Plus, thanks to indoor and outdoor pools, it’s a fun activity you can do all year round. But there are plenty of other water-orientated activities you can try to get your blood pumping.
Kayaking is an excellent workout, even on a calm lake. As you paddle yourself through the water and stabilize the vessel while moving, you’ll use your core, arms, and legs. You’ll also get the opportunity to enjoy nature, which is beneficial to both your physical and emotional health.
Another fun option is stand-up paddle boarding. When you add a few yoga positions to the mix, it becomes a full-fledged physical challenge. You can enroll in a local paddleboard yoga class to get used to the most beneficial poses. You’ll be astonished at how much your core and all the small stabilizer muscles all over your body are used to keep you upright. If you don’t own a paddleboard, you could hire one to determine whether this is for you or not.
Exercise can be difficult, but if you find the right activity for you, you can learn how to make working out enjoyable.
