At any age, health and fitness are very important aspects of life to give your attention to. Numerous studies have proven that being fit and healthy will help you become more productive and aid you in achieving your life goals. Sports and exercise are also great ways to gain a wider social circle and interact with more people over shared interests. If you’re tired of your usual workout or just want to try out something new for your routine, here are some fun activities to get you moving, whether you prefer doing so alone or in a group:
Individual Activities
Many people love individual sports or exercise activities because it can help them get more physically fit without the added stress of working with a team or focusing on winning. If you enjoy exercising by yourself and want to try something different, here are some activities to try during your next fitness session:
Dancing
One good thing about dances is the great variety of them that you can choose from. You are bound to find one you like among the different styles available. A dance partner is also not required, although you may want to have a dedicated partner for certain types of dances.
Getting started is quite easy, as there are plenty of dance academies where you can enjoy learning different dances at your own pace. You can also begin by looking for free dancing tutorials online before signing up for formal classes.
Whether you’re looking to do freestyle or learn the tango, an important tip is to research and prepare outfits that are best suited for the kind of dancing you’re planning on doing. For example, you may need to buy hosiery and stilettos for practicing Latin dances. If you’re planning to learn ballet, you may have to invest in dance tights and a tutu instead.
Aerial Fitness
If you’re the type who loves stretching exercises or would like to try something more challenging, aerial fitness might be the activity for you. This sport uses a soft silk hammock to support and aid the body to achieve different positions that can help with mobility and spatial awareness. Doing this regularly can improve your flexibility, core strength, and posture. It can also help with keeping your mind and body calm and relaxed.
Indoor Cycling
If you like staying indoors but don’t want to sweat it out at the gym, try looking up an indoor cycling club near you. Most places offer guided routines either with a live instructor or recorded videos. Some places also offer cycling sets with accompanying background music and lights for a more enjoyable experience.
Like many other types of group fitness activities, you can sign up for classes that align with your own schedule. This way, you can get the physical activity you need while still taking care of everything else going on in your life. If you want to go the extra mile and continue exercising at home, you can purchase your own indoor cycling bike, invest in an online trainer’s services, and get fit with the help of indoor cycling apps.
Martial Arts
If you love learning about new concepts and cultures as well as mastering specific moves and techniques, going with martial arts may be for you. Most martial arts are heavily influenced by the culture they come from, so practicing one can be an enriching learning experience. The fact that most of these martial arts can be used as a form of self-defense is also a great bonus.
By signing up for martial arts classes, you’ll be training both your body and mind. At the same time, all that practice can help you relieve stress. Plus, many of these martial arts also focus on deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness.
Hiking
If you’re more of the outdoorsy type, hiking is a great way to be active and see some sights at the same time. This activity allows you to burn some calories and de-stress while being surrounded by nature. However, hiking does require a bit of investment in terms of the necessary gear and travel expenses. As such, advanced preparations are a must if you plan to try this activity out.
Even though this activity can be enjoyed alone, you may want to try searching for hiking clubs in your area so you can have some support while you get a better feel for it. Most hikers tend to organize regular hikes and stick to groups for safety while they’re out in the open.
Team Activities
Team activities or sports are usually preferred by people who have more time to burn or those who play the sport competitively. However, this shouldn’t stop you from trying out these sports as a hobby to keep you fit. Why not give any of the following a shot?
Kickball
Baseball and soccer are both popular. That being said, kickball is a sort of combination of these two sports. It involves running to and touching four bases in succession after kicking a soccer ball, which is this game’s equivalent of hitting a baseball with a bat.
You may think this is a game for kids, but it can get you moving well and working up a sweat before you know it. If you’re looking for a way to strengthen your core and lower body, kickball is a great option since you will be running and kicking a lot. Stamina and hand-eye coordination are also improved if you’re chasing the ball as a fielder.
Water Polo
If you love swimming, why not try a sport that’s played in the water? This game is played by two teams of seven in a pool that’s two meters deep. The objective of this game, as with most other ball games, is to throw the ball into the opposing team’s goal. However, being done in the water adds some challenge as players have to swim around to do so.
If you’re a beginner at swimming, it may be best to get some more practice before attempting to join water polo. Moreover, this game is not for people with low stamina, as every game may require you to swim an average of three miles and burn as much as 500 calories.
Ultimate Frisbee
In recent years, ultimate frisbee has been gaining popularity in the world of recreational team sports. The objective of the game is to score goals by throwing the frisbee to a teammate on the opposite end of the field, which is the opposing team’s base. The lack of a referee brings a strong sense of sportsmanship and respect among players of this sport. It’s a fun but action-packed game that will have you sweating in no time!
Keeping yourself healthy doesn’t mean you have to be stuck doing boring runs or repetitive gym sessions. If you’re hoping to stay fit for the long run, a bit of variety can help you stay on track with your goals. We hope you found at least one activity that you’re curious enough to try from this list of sports. Go on, do your research, and get physical!