Unconventional Activities That Keep You Healthy
We all know that exercise is good for us, right? Regular movement can help decrease disease risk, improve mood, boost energy and promote better sleep quality. But exercise doesn’t have to be hours long intense sweat sessions at the gym that leave you super sore the next day. Any movement that gets your heart rate up, even a little bit, has health benefits.
A lot of people have a pretty narrow view of what exercise is supposed to be; running, weight lifting, power walking, etc. And for a lot of people, these activities are not all that enjoyable. So, no wonder people have a hard time sticking to an exercise routine.
Exercise, like nutrition (eating well is so much more than grilled chicken and steamed broccoli), is not one-size-fits-all and is definitely not narrow. Exercise should bring you joy by releasing endorphins and be something to look forward to. Exercise should not feel like a punishment or a chore. The best way to tap into the joy of movement is to find movement you enjoy.
The idea for this article is to get you thinking about unconventional activities that keep you healthy and to reframe your brain to think outside the exercise box.
Take a class
Think about what brings your body joy. You may need to go back a few years and think about what you enjoyed as a kid. It’s never too late to start something or to restart something. There are adult classes for almost everything offered to kids.
Dancing
Dance studios across the country offer adult ballet, tap and jazz classes. Or, of course, my personal favorite, pole dancing. Dance in any form is not only a great way to work up a sweat but also a therapeutic approach to express yourself through movement.
Martial Arts
Like dance, most martial arts studios offer adult classes. Maybe this is something you did as a kid and want to pick back up again. Go for it! Martial arts provide a great total body workout, mindfulness training, and self-defense skills.
Aerial Arts
Have you tried aerial yoga or aerial fitness? It may look a bit intimidating hanging upside down by silk curtains attached to the ceiling, but it’s a really fun exercise to increase core strength, help with spinal decompression and improve mental acuity.
Join a team sport
Team sports aren’t just for kids, either. There are hundreds of adult leagues out there for all kinds of sports. Joining a recreational team is also a great way to widen your social circle with people of similar interests and helps exercise not feel so much like exercise. Take a look in your area for adult teams like:
- Kickball
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Softball
- Bocce Ball
- Flag Football
- Beach Volleyball
Create your own family workouts at home
Exercise doesn’t need to be a structured activity at a specified time. When the weather is nice, go outside and just play. Enjoying physical activities as a family strengthens family bonds and improves mood for both parents and kids. Unstructured play also sets an example for kids that exercise can just be entertaining. Try some of these activities with your family:
- Trampoline
- Hula hoop
- Movement games like charades, video dance games, or other VR sports games
- Good old fashion game of tag
- Hiking
- Skating
Increase movement at work
Something I always have to remind my clients about is that exercise doesn’t have to happen in one big block of time. Sometimes it’s hard to carve out an hour to workout. Exercise still counts when it’s broken up into smaller time increments. Ten minutes here or there adds up to the recommended 30-60 minutes of movement a day. If you find yourself stuck at work longer than expected and feel like you don’t have time to exercise, try these strategies:
- Take the stairs when you can
- Schedule walking meetings
- Get yourself a stand-up desk
- Pace around your office or space while on a phone call
Regular exercise and movement is important to keep us healthy as we get older. The key to sticking with it is to find exercise and movement that you enjoy and to fit it in when it makes sense for your schedule. Find activities that you look forward to, that bring you joy and that don’t feel like “work”.
As you can see from this article, there is no right or wrong way to move. You can move by yourself, with your family, with a social team or with a buddy. You may need to try a few different things until you find your joy. And that’s ok! Whatever you do, just keep moving.
If you feel like you need a little help creating the best exercise joy or staying accountable, contact me. I’m happy to help. Comment below and let us know your favorite way to move.
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