Fun With Fitness
One of the most important things a person can do when it comes to overall fitness, is to choose activities you enjoy. If you enjoy the activities you are participating in, you are more likely to stick with them. You may also want to consider journaling your fitness goals, habits, and desires. If your goal is to lose weight, you may also want to keep a food diary to keep track of calories, and help you remember what you’ve eaten throughout the day.
If you are not comfortable going to the gym, try walking a few days a week. Walk at least thirty minutes a day, a few times a week for the greatest benefits. If you don’t have time to fit thirty minutes in all at once, break it into three ten minute segments. You will still benefit from the exercise. If you like a little more adventure, consider a martial arts class, or a kickboxing class. For a lower stress workout, try dance, tai chi, or a beginning yoga class. If you don’t feel up to a vigorous workout, that’s okay. You don’t need to sweat and push yourself through every fitness routine. Stretch out for a few minutes and then jump in the hot tub, or simply throw a ball to your dog. Fitness is not just for the body, but for the mind also. Even simple exercises can lower stress and blood pressure.
If you don’t want to exercise alone, ask a friend to join the gym with you, or to walk with you. Other group activities could include playing basketball, softball or even bowling.
If you don’t want to spend the money to join a gym, there are many fitness options that you could do from home. One could invest in a treadmill or a stationary bike. There are many exercise DVD’s on the market, from kickboxing to walking videos. You may want to invest in a few tools to use at home. For example, you may enjoy light hand weights, an exercise ball, or exercise bands. Try jump-roping or the kids hula-hoops. You may even want to get your kids involved, and exercise as a family. Fun outdoor games like kick the can, or tag are a great way for the whole family to get fit together. Hiking is an enjoyable family activity also. Check out the trails at your local state or county park. Not only will you benefit from the hike, but sometimes there are fun things to see along the way. While hiking, you may enjoy the local wildlife, or take in the scenery of a woodland pond. Biking is another way to enjoy fitness as a family. Your local parks may offer riding trails with a range of difficulty, or just bike around town. Another great family activity is swimming. Head to the local pool or join the Y. Your local YMCA offers activities for the whole family.
Fitness is for everyone, from children to seniors. Enjoy the benefits that a fitness routine can bring to the body and mind, and start your exercise routine today. Whether you join a group activity, or decide to go it alone, just remember the most important element to getting fit, is to have fun with it.
Morgan Turley is a yoga instructor at Essence Yoga Studio, providing a variety of yoga Mesa AZ classes.
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