Any kind of physical activity is better than none. Our bodies need movement just like they need air, water, and food. We’re not made to be inactive or sedentary so we should find a way to sneak movement into our day.
If you simply don’t feel like exercising or you’re simply not fond of traditional types of exercise, don’t give up just yet. There are other types of offbeat physical activities that will get your blood pumping, increase the heart rate and improve your mood.
Swimming
Nothing screams more fun than the thought of fooling around in the water. It probably brings back the memories of your last summer vacation, as well, but let’s not get into the wanderlust mode yet. There’s an answer to that because you can always go swimming, feeling wanderlust or not.
Moreover, it’s another fun way to exercise without it feeling like an actual exercise. It engages your entire body and helps you burn that bar of chocolate and other unhealthy cravings you might have devoured. At least thirty minutes spent on swimming engages your body and floating is also a perfect stress-busting technique.
The yoga adventure
Let’s be frank about it – people who sign up for yoga are those who actually hate the idea of exercising. That’s why they settle with yoga. But, that’s where they are wrong. Yoga is a powerful way to engage your body and it is a regular workout. There are many types of yoga sessions available out there.
All of them offer a different kind of adventure, from traditional yoga, aerial yoga to power yoga. But the main thing about all of them is the vast range of health benefits. A typical yoga session will build your strength, improve mobility, flexibility and help you center your thoughts.
Daily yoga practice is also intertwined with meditation so you can master it to reduce stress. Yoga is also a great complementary exercise if you change your mind about going to the gym along the way.
Dancing
Dancing is another fun offbeat physical activity that doesn’t feel like exercise. It’s something you can do on your own while you blast your favorite tunes. When you dance like no one’s watching you actually sneak in a cardio workout into your daily routine. The main benefit of dancing is that you can do it whenever you feel like improving your mood. You can also turn it into a real hobby and try practicing some crazy moves by watching online tutorials.
You can also sign up for a dance class and tone up in a guided group activity. A professional dance class will upgrade your flexibility, coordination, and balance. It will also teach you some teamwork because you’ll probably dance with a partner. Either way, dancing is a fun way to tone up without it feeling like a regular type of exercise.
Rock climbing
Even though rock climbing is definitely an offbeat physical activity, it will be a serious workout. It will boost your strength levels and increase stamina as well. In order to climb up an indoor rock, you’ll need to learn proper techniques and also use your strength. If you have a bit of an adventurous spirit within you, you should definitely give it a go.
Besides increasing your strength gradually, rock climbing also builds your endurance. Once you are caught up in the middle of artificial rock, you need to push through your limits in order to climb up. That’s where your endurance is the main skill to rely on.
This activity also increases your logical thinking skills, because you have to think carefully about your next move. Each time you have to analyze the position of each hand and also take into account foot placement. Rock climbing is not just about pure strength abilities, it’s also about using your mind and logic properly.
Kickboxing
This type of activity is great for those who are serious fitness lovers and those who wish to try something a bit different. For those who will use it as a complementary fitness routine – it will engage those muscles you didn’t think you have. On the other hand, people who struggle with committing to the fact of exercising, it will be a fun way to kickstart fitness habits.
Kickboxing is both a cardio exercise and a full-body session. This is ideal for those who hate separating the two types of exercise from one another. In other words, kickboxing is a form of high-intensity interval training.
While you work on basic movement and proper technique, you also build your focus because you have to maintain it to perfect the movement. This will help you greatly because you’ll use these movements to your advantage if you ever enter the ring. Coordination, flexibility, balance are all benefits of this type of activity.
Hiking
Hiking is an ideal way to get in touch with nature, feed your adventurous spirit and calm your wanderlust. It will give you a chance to play an explorer even if it’s for a day. This is a group activity because it’s safer to hike in the company. Doing it alone is not advisable because you can easily get injured or lost.
Since it can be time-consuming, especially if you’ve never been on a particular hiking trail before, go hiking on the weekend. Hiking is similar to walking, but it can be an intensive walk if the terrain is rough. So, it’s like walking but with some obstacles. It will also build your strength and endurance because you’ll have to carry your own food and endure the length of a trail until you reach the end.
The beautiful scenery has a similar effect like meditation. The beauty of greenery or nature, in general, will ease any tension, reduce anxiety and fill you with the love for life. It will ease your mind and help you get a good night’s rest when you finally return home after a long hike.
Cycling
Perfect as a solo activity and group fun, cycling simply deserves its place on this list. Known as a light cardio activity, it builds your stamina, endurance and also improves your fitness levels. Just like hiking, cycling will take you outside and allow you to soak up the Sun and replenish your vitamin D levels.
It is something you can easily fit into your everyday life. For example, you can commute to work daily. Riding an e-bike to work will give you a rush of endorphins in the morning and improve your mood right before work. It will also help you break out of a sedentary mood when you cycle home after work.
You can also pick up the pace a bit and cycle for better fitness during the weekends. Pick a trail that is ideal for outdoor cycling and test your stamina and improve your cardiovascular health. Cycling is also something that is a fun group activity and it is suitable for all ages.
Playing video games
Video games provide the ultimate fun because they are so vivid, engaging and exciting. But, don’t get overexcited because we’re not talking about just any video game you play sitting down or lounging on a couch with a wireless joystick in your hands.
The focus here is on active video games. There are many options out there but the most popular ones include Nintendo Wii, Wii Fit and other options. The difficulty levels of these games will get you moving around and burning calories.
Playing sports
Football, basketball, tennis, dodgeball, volleyball are all a fun way to be active. You don’t have to be a pro athlete to enjoy the benefits of playing sports. All you have to know is familiarise yourself with the basics, so you won’t get injured. Next, gather a group of friends and pick a date and a venue for this type of fun.
There will be lots of running, a lot of hand-eye or other types of coordination, and it’s a great way to spend your afternoon with friends. Just make sure a game isn’t too competitive because that might ruin the fun aspect of playing sports.
Drumming
This is yet another physical activity that is both fun, engaging and atypical. You’ve probably never considered drumming as a physical activity before. But, it strengthens both your arms and legs muscles while also engaging the core. If you love music and would like to try a new hobby, drumming is a way to go. There are also therapeutic benefits to drumming because it releases tension, stress and any negative feelings.
Walking
Walking is something we do all the time. But, we can do it more and often to get those elusive 10.000 steps and improve our health. In reality, you just have to move more to achieve this number of steps. Walking is cheap, easy to do and it also counts as a light physical activity.
Instead of watching TV in the evening, put on comfortable clothes, sneakers and take a brisk walk around your neighborhood. You can listen to some music, audiobooks or join a walking group and make friends along the way.
Even the people who can’t imagine themselves exercising will find at least one enjoyable activity among these eleven. There is something fun and exciting for everyone. Just pick an activity and give it a go. If you don’t like it you can just move to the next one on this list.