5 Alternatives to Exercising When You Hate Exercising
I’ve never been a fan of exercising. In fact, I hate it. That’s right. I said it. I HATE exercising. I was one of those unfortunate kids in gym who got yelled at (many times) by the gym teacher to pick up the pace when running the track. If I would have known how to stick my middle finger in the air at that age and what it actually meant in doing so, I would have. Multiple times. Some kids, no, some people, in general, are just not all that athletically inclined. Nor are they super competitive.
I dreaded gym class and did my best to avoid it if at all possible. Not necessarily because I was an out of shape kid, but because I couldn’t (and still can’t) hit a baseball to save my life, run four miles in under five minutes without tripping over my own two feet, play volleyball (though I’m really good at hitting other people with the ball, particularly in the back of the head — sorry, Anna), nor can I do push-ups or pull ups. It’s just not happening.
Over the years though, I’ve discovered that there are ways of working out and getting/staying fit that don’t feel as though you’re actually exercising. You’re still sweating and burning calories and still having the occasional “kill me now — what the hell did I sign up for?” thoughts, but eventually you release those thoughts because you’re having just too much FUN to care.
The general rule of thumb for exercise is 30 minutes a day, whether it’s walking, running, dancing, playing ball, or even mowing the lawn. Who knew pushing a lawnmower could be considered exercise? If you are wanting to lose or maintain weight, you may need to increase your overall time to between 60 and 90 minutes a day.
If you’re thinking of jumping on the exercise bandwagon, but are like me and absolutely despise the thought of exercising, here are five fun alternative workouts that you might consider:
Yoga is a great, low impact workout for those who want some relaxation at the end of a stressful day or to start their day on a positive note, those who suffer from chronic illness, or those who, like myself, have a job in which they commute and are sedentary for most of the day. I’ve just recently taken up yoga as a way to help with my anxiety and stress, but also as a way to help my body become stronger without the high intensity workout.
2. Pound
Ever dream of becoming a drummer in a rock band? Well, now is your chance! Pound is a fun, upbeat workout designed to work your entire body, from your inner and outer thighs, glutes, core muscles, and back muscles. Pound can help you lose weight, improve your mood (because who doesn’t like rocking out to their favorite song and doing some serious pounding to the floor), and best of all: it’s FUN! Each workout involves the use of weighted drumsticks called ripstix, which can help tone your forearms, upper arms, chest muscles, and shoulders. You’re getting a great workout and you don’t even realize it.
3. Aerial Arts
Have you ever wanted to walk the tight rope as a kid? How about swing gracefully in a whirlwind of ribbons as you ascend high into the sky? Many fitness studios across the country are offering aerial arts courses where you can feel like a graceful (or not so graceful) acrobat. Aerial Circus Arts is for every body, no matter your age or physical limitations. It’s all about using your body as its own weight lift and before you know it, you’ve done push-ups, sit-ups, and leg raises.
4. Tai Chi
A centuries old Chinese practice which connects the mind and body through slow, controlled, fluid movements and meditation, Tai Chi is somewhat similar to yoga. It helps to increase strength, improve your coordination, and it lowers stress and blood pressure. I recently took an Introduction to Tai Chi course through a Professional Development Day seminar at work and let me tell you, it was the most peaceful 45 minutes of my life. Much like yoga, it’s about connecting with your body and focusing your mind. If you’re in need of some serious zen, I highly recommend!
5. Barre and SoulCycle
Okay, so technically this should be six instead of five, but both of these are so much fun I couldn’t resist adding them both! I personally have never taken a Barre or SoulCycle class; Barre is not offered in my area and as unbelievable as it is, there are ZERO SoulCycle classes offered in Indiana. Hey SoulCycle, could we figure out a way to fix that? That being said, both of these classes look extremely fun and a great way to exercise without actually exercising.
So what is SoulCycle, exactly? It’s a 45–60 minute high intensity, cardio and strength training indoor cycling class with rhythm based choreography — on a bike. But it’s way more than that. SoulCycle is all about the mind-body experience, really digging in and finding out what you’re made of and pushing yourself beyond the ordinary and finding the extraordinary.
As for Barre, it’s all about the ballet movement and whether you’re a pro or a total beginner, anyone can do Barre. The classes focus on strength, cardio, and flexibility using basic ballet movements and of course, the ballet bar. Tone your legs, sculpt those glutes and feel your muscles elongate themselves.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go work up a sweat and enjoy the fact that with one of these classes, I’m exercising without realizing it!
