Do you know what is one of the biggest perks to being in shape? It feels good. And even if it’s felt like a drag in the past, getting there can actually be fun. Really! Of all the tips and ideas for making fitness fun again, the biggest one is mental: count every single workout, each sweaty interval, even a single pushup, and feel good about it. Cheering yourself on is the secret. Ignore what everyone else is doing, and how they look. This is about you! Little victories add up and here are five fun ways to get started:
Pickleball
There’s a reason why pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America. It’s so fun! Picture a tennis court, but smaller and instead of a racquet you’ve got an oversized ping pong paddle. And here’s the kicker, you’re working with a wiffle ball. All these updates to tennis make pickleball so much easier and more accessible to people at any age or fitness level. You can play singles or doubles but the combination of playing with at least one other person, the competition and the relative ease of the game makes pickleball a kick. On the hunt for a pickleball court? Select YouFit Gyms offer indoor pickleball and equipment rentals. Now near you a YouFit! Don’t worry – find a place to play pickleball near you.
Playlists
Sometimes there’s no substitute for cranking up the tunes. The benefits of listening to music while working out are even proven by research! Scientific American reports, “Music distracts people from pain and fatigue, elevates mood, increases endurance, reduces perceived effort and may even promote metabolic efficiency. When listening to music, people run farther, bike longer and swim faster than usual—often without realizing it.” Making your own playlist is something that your future self will thank you for. Not sure where to start? Spotify has a list of the best workout songs. So does Time magazine. And Self magazine offers the top 10 workout playlists, all ready to be downloaded.
Zumba
If you’ve ever taken dance lessons as a kid and miss that synchronized movement in front of a mirror, Zumba is for you! If you’ve always worried that you’re not a great dancer, Zumba might be for you too! Because it’s not a competition. Most Zumba classes are like a dance party, complete with the overhead lights turned off and replaced with disco lights. The music is always upbeat and the moves can either be simplified or taken to the next level. It’s an amazing workout and one that you actually forget you’re doing because you’re having so much fun dancing.
Workout with a friend
Science is on the side of socializing when it comes to working out. In fact, research shows that the number one predictor of actually sticking with a workout plan until you achieve your goals might surprise you: it’s having a workout partner! The accountability plus feel-good hormones from being around a friend are an unbeatable combination. Make a standing date, even if it’s once a week, and stick to it so you don’t have to schedule time together over and over, which we all know is the hardest part about getting together.
Small group classes
Yoga, weight training, HIIT, boxing. So many options for group classes! And they all have a couple of key things in common: group classes always happen at a specified time which adds accountability, they’re led by professional trainers who know what they’re doing (and will teach you too), plus, you get that boost of energy from having other people in the room without any pressure to socialize, or get them to show up in the first place. Best of all, most YouFit Gym memberships include group classes.
Ready to make fitness fun again? Join YouFit Gyms and take everything from small group training, group fitness classes like Zumba, and play Indoor Pickleball with your friends with a Premium+ member. Join Now.
Not ready to join? Try YouFit FREE for 3 Days.
