One hundred and fifty minutes. That is the amount of time the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults get for adequate, moderate exercise in one week.
The good news is that cumbersome exercise is old news. In this modern world, there are so many new and exciting health and fitness routines. Interesting workouts like goat yoga and Peloton cycling replace tiring, traditional exercises. If that seems a little too out there, there is also hot yoga or paddle board yoga. If Pelotons are not appealing, a stepper bike, retro spin class or cycling club can yield the same results.
These are just a few ideas for some unorthodox ways to break a sweat and have fun doing it. Try these alternative fitness routines to spice up those workouts this year:
Hula hooping and circus-inspired exercises — yes, seriously
Hula hoop workouts are not only fun on their own, but it gets even more fun when moving to the beat of a favorite song. Take the old-school exercise up a notch with a weighted hula hoop, which makes the workout more aerobic. Hula hoop arm circles and standing reaches challenge the upper body, while V-sits work the lower torso.
Those impressive Cirque du Soleil moves may look intimidating, but even the clumsiest of fitness enthusiasts can tackle some modest circus-inspired techniques. Traditional exercise really turns upside down with aerial hooping to help sculpt the abs and arms. For those who want to keep their exercise safely on the ground, aerial silks offer arm strength and striations.
Dance it out
John Travolta no longer has a monopoly on disco now that the old school dance craze has transformed into a total body workout. There are even disco spin classes with hanging mirrored balls and flashing lights for those who want to cycle to some “Night Fever.”
Christina vs. Britney Hit dance workouts are available for those who want to add some flirt to their exercise. If the VCR is long gone, do not let that get in the way of enjoying some Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons workouts. Along with original Fonda YouTube, 2021 tributes really bring the past back to life while losing some pounds.
Take it outside — or bring the outdoors in
Indoor climbing and bouldering are an extremely fun, challenging way to strengthen the core, forearms and legs. There is something to be said about ascending a wall using that upper body strength and rappelling down.
There is even more to be said about exercising outdoors. Greater Tampa Bay makes that possible all over the region, from swimming against the current in the ocean to running on the beach to paddling one of the area’s several rivers, bays and waterways.
No longer just for professionals, boxing techniques allow anyone to work it out in a totally new way. Warm up by jumping rope, then throw some punches — with correct form, by the way — at a heavy bag or speed ball.
Lastly, for those who use work as an excuse not to get too physical, a good workout is literally all in a day’s work for at-home workers. A treadmill desk makes it possible to do cardio on the clock, staying in motion rather than sitting idly all day. Add in a few five-minute breaks during the day to lift weights and build strength, and a daily workout can be finished long before punching the clock.
With so many fun workout options these days, it can be easy for fitness enthusiasts and haters alike to score those 150 minutes of weekly exercise. The clock is ticking for this week’s quota, so pick any of the alternative ideas and begin working it out — and have some fun, too.
By Angela Underwood
