Sports & Activities for Introverts
The purpose of this article is to introduce various kind of less common sports & activities that I personally experience and whether it is suitable for introverts or not.
Archery
Introvert Level 5/5
Location: Archery Thai
Archery allows you to spend your time alone. It can be meditative since you are spending your time with your bow, slowly pulling string, focusing on your muscle and eye trained on the target. This is a great activity for those who want something soothing and relaxing. Except when you missed all the shot and you cant find the stray arrow that not even you know where it landed as others are waiting for you to collect your arrows.
Laser Gun
Introvert Level 2/5
Location: Siam Laser Games
Laser gun required lots of players to play. If you don’t like lots of people then this should be a hard pass. But if you can somewhat tolerate it, communication is optional since most people just play on their own without speaking anyway. It can also be a nice workout since you need to run around, crouch, and often be on the move on the field.
Gym
Introvert Level 4/5
Gym can be intimidating for people who never went to one before. There are many people crammed in a room with various huge black machines. Most gym patrons are just focused on their workout, some also just put music in their ear and don’t really care about other much. If you never go to gym before, it might be a good idea to ask friend or hire a personal trainer to help you get familiar.
Bouldering
Introvert Level 4/5
Location: Stonegoat Climbing Gym
Bouldering require strength and body coordination. There are routes ranging from one for beginners who don’t exercise to impossible routes specifically for veterans. You can face the wall and mind your own session or chat with others between rest. Climbing injuries are also something you will get if you climb often. Such as injury from wrong landing because you try to land with style, ignoring best practices. Or attempting difficult route beyond your level and got your muscle pulled too hard.
Roller Skate
Introvert Level 3/5
Location: Roller Dome
Roller skate as a beginner is a pretty relaxing activity, you can just roll around the ring aimlessly. Or you can try other advance trick like rotating and leg switching. You may see a lot of kids playing in the ring depends on the location, so be prepared to face with children who can make you feel shame.
Ice Skate
Introvert Level 3/5
Location: The Rink
Ice Skate is very similar to roller skate. For beginner, instead of repeatedly fall on the ground, you will fall on the ice instead, which has wet factor on top of the pain.
Parkour
Introvert Level 2/5
Location: The Movement Playground
Parkour for beginner is a great exercise and can be demanding depends on the level of the session. It required running, jumping, and climbing with expert providing safety guidance, which you can still hurt yourself because translating verbal guidance to actual movement is not a skill that human can do with 100% accuracy. So you should expect some bruises or sprained ankle. At Movement Playground, it provide a community events every few weeks.
Diving
Introvert Level 1/5
Diving is a very surreal experience if you have never done it before. You will be submerged deep under sea and your five sense is very different from normal. You can no longer use your nose to breath or smell. You no longer hear sound of people talking, only bubbles. You only see blueness of the ocean. You mouth will always have oxygen attached. Nevertheless, you got to see the beauty of the depth, but only if you are not too unlucky with muddy water which can change daily. It is an activity which require a lot of preparation and license, usually done in group with dive master looking out for your safety.
SUP Board
Introvert Level 5/5
SUP Board can be easy if you are sitting on the board in a pool, and can be incredibly difficult if you are standing and in a strong ocean wave. If you are seeking thrill you can also try learning SUP boarding tricks which can challenge your balance and body coordination. You might also want to check the sun to make sure you do not get sun burn. Repeatedly alternating between falling from the board and struggling to climb up under Thailand sun might not be a good experience for some.
Bounce
Introvert Level 3/5
Location: Bounce
Bounce provide you with trampolines and ninja warrior route. You can jump and bounce around the area. Just be sure to be careful of your surrounding as most visitors are kids. If you don’t like being surround with kids then this might not be an activity for you.
Kayaking
Introvert Level 5/5
Location: Information Center of Rayong Botanic Garden
Kayaking can be done alone or with friends, one boat can carry two people max. The activity itself does not require much skill or attention. It provide you with an opportunity to sightseeing. From my experience, the boat is a bit painful to sit in for a long time and it become increasingly agonizing as the pain creeping in while you no longer want to do the sightseeing but can’t quit because you are just midway through the route.
Rafting
Introvert Level 1/5
Location: Best Rafting 4U Camp
If you want to go rafting you need to decide whether you want to paddle or not. If you paddle, you will have a riskier trip as you flow along fast current without both hands to hold on. If you don’t paddle, you can hold on to your dear life and wait for the trip end. If you like the feeling of rollercoaster, this give similar feeling plus wetness. Overall you will feel like you don’t have much control of the situation as most you can do is just steer the boat a bit under mercy of river current.
Spartan Race
Introvert Level 1/5
Spartan race is an obstacle race consist of long distance running with various stages that required you to pull, push, carry, climb, crawl, etc,. It’s where people purposefully put hardship on yourself. If you are the type that can get high by exhausting yourself and are not afraid to get bruised and dirty, you will like spartan race.
