Health Article

Spruce Up Your Fitness Regime with Fun Activities

We all know that a regular dose of exercise is extremely important for us, in order to be healthy and fit. And, most of us have been to the gym at some or the other point. However, after a few days most of us also give it up on one fine day. In fact, sometimes you miss out on the whole routine because all you want to do is sit in front of the computer or watch television instead! This shows that it is nothing but boredom that has crept into your fitness regime. Nonetheless, instead of turning into a couch potato and making all sort of excuses, why don’t you try out something new…something that is fun and which leaves no scope for  boredom. If the whole gym and jogging routine is not your scene, fret not. Instead, why don't you spruce up your fitness regime with some fun activities instead!  

Put on your dancing shoes and do the jiggy

Personally, I believe that nothing can be as invigorating as a good dance. Just think of it, is there any scope for boredom when you are jiving away to your favorite beats? Dancing is a real cool way to knock of some extra kilos from your body without even realizing that it is basically an exercise.

In fact have you ever thought of enrolling in dance classes? Well, not only do they make you more fit but also give you a scope to show of your dancing skills at the next big do that you are invited to. (Not to mention all the members of the opposite gender who will be going gaga over your moves). There are a lot of options to choose from when it comes to dancing, it could be salsa, line dancing, meringue, ball room dancing or jazz. Apart from helping you sport a new toned body; dance classes also build up a high level of confidence in your demeanor and add a spring to your walk. Not to mention, how young and lissome it will make you feel. You can also add more spice to your dance class by convincing your partner to join in. 

Play up the music while you do the household chores everyday

We all know doing household chores is a subtle form of exercise. However, you can add more spunk, to the routine, by playing your favorite music. Not only will it help you sail through your  cleaning, sprucing, mending  routing but also the upbeat music will help you put in more energy to the work. This means you will be losing more calories.

Beautify your garden

Who doesn't like to appreciate flowers, especially when the weather is breezy and beautiful? Well, next time, don’t just stand there and simply gaze away to your heart’s content. Instead, bring out the spade and the trowel and get digging in your backyard or terrace or wherever you have a small patch of garden. Whether it is planting some new flowers and seedlings, trimming the hedges or just snipping a bit from here and there, they all count as healthy exercise especially when you take in the fresh air and enjoy the beautiful sunshine. Pssst…when the neighbors are not looking (actually who cares even if they), you could roll about on the grass, and do a little “skippity-hoppity” (Yes we are never too old for this…I repeat…let your inner child loose) or just jump and rollick. Exercise has never been this much fun.

Try out Pilate or yoga

Pilate and yoga are more fun than a regular mundane routine at the gym. You could either join such classes or assemble a bunch of friends together and get a trainer. This will also be a great way to bond with your friends. In fact, it’s a better idea to hang out with your friends on the pretext of Pilate or yoga (yup, just pretend it’s a pretext because this way you won’t feel monotony rise in your routine) than meeting them for lunch or over a crate of beer.

Hike, run or simply walk

Butterflies trailing alongside, the smell of sweet flowers and the feeling of exhilaration…yes you can enjoy such an experience everyday if you go hiking. You can always begin with trails that are easy, and then slowly build up your stamina so that you are geared for steeper and longer paths. In fact you can explore different routes after every week or so, this would also mean that you have less chances of getting bored. The fresh air will also make you feel more energetic. Hiking is always fun.

Run after your kids, siblings or for that matter your neighbors’ kids (as long as their mothers don’t give you a glaring look and as long as you don’t get so involved in it that you look like a psychotic loony) and chase them around in the park or yard. In fact, do you remember the joys of playing “come and catch me” during childhood? You could do the same now, so every evening collect your children (or your neighbors, i.e., as said earlier if their parents do not mind) and have a good dose of running around. Not only will stress and tension drain out of your body but you will also have an increased level of energy, not to mention the amount of exercise that you will get due to all the mindless running. 

A nice stroll in the evening also contributes towards a healthier body. A walk, whether taken in the morning, evening or night, is a good way to work the limbs. You won’t even come to know that you are exercising, especially if you take along someone with you. See the minutes fly without even realizing it. In fact, before you know, you will probably have to be convinced to call it a day, because you might be so animatedly involved in the conversation that you may fail to notice its past dinner time!

If you are going solo for your walk or hike, then take along the iPod or the portable mp3 player/Walkman. Not only will the beats of the music add a spring to your step but you will be so engrossed that you won’t even come to know that its time to head back home. Music is a great rejuvenator and keeps you from feeling tired, and in this way you can complete your laps in peace.

Hit the pedal of the bicycle

Do you remember how much fun you had bicycling up and down the lane? Who says you can’t do it now! You can go for a spin every evening and plan out longer ones for the weekend and get your whole family to join in. Zooming on the bike is a great way to keep fit.

Dive into the pool.

When it comes to a combination of relaxation and exercise, nothing can beat swimming. What can be a better way to leave behind a hectic day than a plunge in the pool? It is one of the best forms of exercises and you can make it even more effective by doing some aquatic exercises while in the pool. It takes more effort to work your muscles under water, therefore any free style exercise you do will be more effective. You could also introduce games such as water volley ball etc in your daily swimming routine once in a while to make it more fun. 

You can also do a mix and match of the activities mentioned above. One day you could hit the pool and the next day you can zoom around on your bike. So, now you have no more excuses when it comes to missing out on the exercise. What we must all remember is that sometimes spending hours at the gym is not the ultimate move when it comes to a healthier body. A healthy person is one who is mentally happy too; therefore your fitness routine should have a fun element so that you enjoy yourself and look forward to it, instead of shirking away. This will leave no scope for boredom and you will face a fitter you in the mirror!