Those who view the gym as their second home will often split their workouts into various categories, focusing on different areas each day, from toned tums to legs, arms, cardio, and overall stamina.
Lots of people love to plan and plot the perfect regime, but for some it’s an unnecessarily tedious task that you could really do without. If you’re not a fitness aficionada, and have no intention of becoming one, sports that work your whole body can be a better option than a comprehensive workout regime.
Luckily, there are lots to choose from, and all will tone, increase your fitness, and build your stamina without requiring an encyclopaedic knowledge of working out. If they sound perfect for you, then here are a few fun pursuits for you to pick from…
1: Rowing
Rowers are known for their broad shoulders and muscled arms, but rowing increases much more than your upper body strength. Its continuous movement is perfect for encouraging you to bend and stretch, and will actually work out all parts of your body, from your legs to your shoulder, back, and abdomen. Even better, it will help you to escape the tedium of the gym, and give you the chance to enjoy fresh air and beautiful waterscapes. For those who prefer team sports, most cities will have a rowing club for you to join, and the friendships you’ll build can really help to motivate your newfound passion.
2: Horse Riding
There is a common misconception around horse riding as a sport. It’s all too easy to watch equestrians in motion and assume that they simply sit there, but this is because the aim of the game is to make it look entirely effortless. In fact,horse riding can actually help to burn around 400 calories an hour. It’s particularly useful for improving body awareness, as it not only works the core muscles that stabilise your torso, but also requires an impressive level of coordination and stability. This is great news for your postural strength, and your inner thighs and pelvic muscles are also guaranteed to get a fantastic workout whenever you spend some time in the saddle.
3: Skateboarding
Skateboarding is often perceived as more of a cultural phenomenon than a sport, but it actually offers a wonderful full body workout. Due to the level of flexibility required to skate, it can really help to loosen up your muscles and encourage freedom of movement. Your body must be able to adapt to constant shifts in the position of your feet and legs, as well as a reliance on your arms for balance, and all of this does wonders for toning muscles and improving physical endurance. What’s more, it’s been shown to burn between 150 and 500 calories an hour, which is good news for those with a little extra weight to lose.
If you’re searching for a new sport, could one of these fitness pursuits prove to be the perfect new hobby for you?