Let’s be honest -not all of us enjoy sweating it out at the gym. While some people are able to wake up at 6am for a workout everyday and without fail, there are just as many of us who would much rather hit that snooze button each morning for an hour of extra sleep. Thankfully, you don’t have to be a gym bunny to reap the benefits of being active. In fact, today we’ll school you through 6 super fun exercises that don’t feel like exercise, so read on to find out more!
Table Tennis Those Calories Off
Did you know that table tennis actually burns anywhere between 250-400 calories an hour? For advanced players, this number goes up to 500 calories per hour which is an incredible amount of exercise for a seemingly non-strenuous activity. The upper back, shoulders, biceps, chest, and triceps all come into play during a table tennis serve and can even lead to some muscle hypertrophy (also known as muscle building and muscle toning. So, the next time you feel a little too lazy to go out for a run, why not head to your local table tennis table with a few friends — you’ll burn calories, strengthen your muscles, and have an awesome time with the people you love being around. We can’t think of anything better!
Dance The Night Away
Whether it’s signing up for a local Zumba class or joining a dance group, dancing is one of the best cardiovascular activities that you can do. Depending on the style and type of dancing you enjoy participating in, you can burn anywhere between 300-500 calories in just one hour. Dancing can also help to strengthen your bones, increase your aerobic fitness, improve muscle tone, and improve the condition of your heart and lungs. Some fun dances that really don’t feel like exercise include Bollywood dancing, belly dancing, and the ever so sensual bachata dancing which incorporates heavy hip-swaying and primarily focuses on the lower body.
Fitness Video Games
If you love gaming, you’re definitely going to be up for this one. Fitness video games such as the Wii Fit Plus, Just Dance 2020, and BOXVR amongst many others are incredibly fun console-based games that you can enjoy either alone or with friends and family. Many of these games are specifically designed to provide vigorous exercise and encourage players to improve speed, balance, agility and range of motion. Studies have even found that the energy expended during fitness games matches that of moderate or vigorous activity and can indeed offer the same health benefits as traditional exercise. The best part? You don’t even have to leave your living room!
Give Your Home A Spring Clean
If you hate doing household chores, you may want to skip past this one. If cleaning is something you enjoy (or at least are able to tolerate), then you’re in luck. Cleaning your house from top to bottom can burn up to 200 calories per hour, all while engaging almost every single muscle in your body. Whether it’s vacuuming, mopping, scrubbing grout or getting those windows sparkling, cleaning is one of the best ways to keep in shape without ever having to hop on an exercise machine. Tone your legs by picking things off the floor, your arms by wiping windows down and your core while washing dishes or sweeping. Who would have thought?
Channel Your Inner Mermaid
While the jury isn’t out as to whether mermaids really exist or not, you can channel your inner mermaid by signing up for a mermaid class. If you love splashing around in the water and daydreaming about living a fantasy life, mermaid classes are right up your alley. Mermaiding is a full-body activity that can help strengthen your core, increase flexibility, and build endurance. One of the biggest benefits of water-based activity is the fact that it is gentle on your joints, thus making it the ideal exercise for anyone who suffers from conditions such as arthritis or pre-existing injuries caused by accidents or surgery.
Roller Skating
Last but not least, if you’re looking for a fun activity that will distract you from the fact that you are exercising, roller skating is certainly top of the list. Regardless of whether you choose to hop on a pair of inline or quad skates, roller skating is an incredibly exciting activity that just happens to also increase your cardiovascular health, build muscles, and improve overall coordination. In fact, roller skating burns 600 calories per hour while working your leg muscles, glutes, and core. Skating also causes up to 50% less stress to the joints when compared to running, making it a great activity for anyone suffering from gout or arthritis.
And there you have it – 6 activities that will keep you so engaged that you’ll barely even notice that you’ve broken a sweat. Exercising doesn’t have to be a tedious or boring affair – by finding new and inspiring ways to get your body moving, you’ll not only improve both your health and fitness but also be able to spend time doing the things you truly love.
