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The journey to peak fitness doesn’t come easily to most of us. For some, fitness becomes much harder when they hit 30; for others, the age of 40 is when they hit the block. What’s certain is that fitness becomes more difficult as we get older, and for some of us it’s already hard despite being young. Sometimes, the regular gym membership or sporting activities just don’t cut it.
When this happens, we might be tempted to turn to more unusual methods of keeping fit. There are plenty of things out there that you can do to keep fit that are fun and weird; you don’t have to run hundreds of laps around a cold field to achieve physical fitness. Here are six unusual ways that you can get fit. These exercises will also keep you fit if you keep them up!
- Skiing
That’s right. Skiing is an excellent way to keep fit. You might not think of skiing as a fitness activity, but it’s actually a great workout that puts pressure on lots of muscle groups. There are also some great ski exercises you can do to prepare yourself for a skiing holiday; after all, the fitter you are, the more likely you are to ski well! When you’re prepping for your skiing holiday, remember you can exercise while you relax.
Alpine skiing is a mixture between resistance training and endurance training. You’re manipulating the skis with your arms and legs, so those muscles are getting a workout. You’re moving, so your heart rate is up. The weather around you is likely to be cold, which is beneficial for your health while you exercise. The bottom line is that skiing is a great way to keep fit.
- Doga
Doga is exactly how it sounds: it’s yoga with your dog. Your best friend makes an ideal training partner; they’re committed, they love exercising, and they’ll want to spend a lot of time around you, so they’re the best spotter you could find. Of course, there are better and worse breeds for doga. By and large, the more intelligent breeds lend themselves better to this discipline.
If you’ve already practiced regular yoga, you’ll be familiar with the basic tenets of doga. It’s exactly the same as yoga, but your dog joins in too. Even if you’re not actually getting your dog to exercise, having your furry friend around might help; even a dog that’s getting in the way constantly is making you have to move around more, right?
- Rock climbing
Rock climbing makes for superlative cardio. If you’re struggling with your heart health, or just looking to drop a few pounds, then rock climbing could well be the activity for you. Most major urban environments have rock climbing facilities, so you shouldn’t have to travel too far to find one. They’re not all created equal, though, so make sure you pick the right one.
Rock climbing is a great workout in much the same way as using an elliptical trainer. It’s a full body workout that targets all the major muscle groups in your body. You’ll be using your core constantly to make sure you’re stable and not about to fall, while your arms and legs will be propelling you upwards. This is also an excellent way to improve grip strength and mobility.
- Hula hooping
Now here’s an activity that barely has to cost any money at all. To get into hula hooping, all you need to have is a hula hoop, and you can usually find one of these for almost nothing. Once you’ve got your hoop, you’re ready to embark on your hula fitness journey. If you want to go the extra mile, there are weighted hula hoops that are specifically designed for fitness purposes.
Like the other exercises on this list, hula hooping has a huge number of benefits for your health. Not only is it working your abs to the bone, but it’s also a great cardiovascular workout. Anything that gets you constantly moving has a huge advantage when it comes to your heart health, so hula hooping is the perfect way to be healthier - and it doesn’t even require you to leave your house!
- Pole dancing
Get any thoughts of impropriety out of your mind. Pole dancing - or pole fitness, to give it its correct name - is out to be the acceptable and respectable face of a discipline once thought to be the sole premise of those in less-than-savoury lines of work. Aside from boosting your self-confidence massively, pole fitness has huge potential when it comes to improving your health.
Your core will get a serious blitz if you decide to take up pole fitness. Since you’re using your arms and legs to keep yourself aloft on the pole, your arm muscles and leg muscles will get a serious workout too. Constant movement means your heart rate is increasing, so your heart health will benefit hugely from this exercise method. If you find pole fitness fun, you’ll be glad to hear it’s also very healthy.
- Fencing
Let’s face it: we all wanted to take up fencing at school, but we were either too shy or our schools were too ill-equipped to allow us to do it. Fencing looks pretty cool from the outside, but did you know it’s also a great way to keep fit? Think about it: fencers are constantly moving, dodging one another’s slashes, and riposting. All of those actions are using all the major muscle groups.
Fencing is pretty much a full-body workout and tones almost every important muscle in your body. It’ll improve your grip strength, your hand-eye coordination, and your reflexes. What’s more, fencing can also enhance your moral character; it’s a highly sporting discipline that relies heavily on obedience to the rules and a respect for your opponent. Bring your partner or best buddy and get fit through fencing.
Some think they will gain weight when they go on vacation. However, the opposite can be true, it really depends on what activities you take part in and what foods you eat whilst away. Consider the activities from this article, they’ll be sure to burn those calories, just ensure you eat the right foods.
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