Starting a new exercise routine can be intimidating, especially if you're new to exercise. It's easy to get stuck in a cycle of inactivity, but incorporating regular physical activity into your daily routine can have numerous benefits for your physical and mental health. While the thought of beginning a workout routine can be daunting, there are many easy and fun ways to get started.
To help you get up off the couch and search for your sneakers, here are some fun exercise suggestions to motivate beginners to get moving and start improving overall health and wellness.
- Walking: Walking is a low-impact exercise that can be done anywhere, and it's a great way to get started with exercise. Plus, there are a lot of things you can do to make walking fun and interesting. When you normally sit down, over lunch or after supper in the evening, go out and take a walk. It helps to change your location, topography (hills, different surroundings), time yourself, create a performance chart for yourself, and more.
- Swimming: Swimming is a low-impact exercise that is gentle on the joints and can improve cardiovascular health. Swimming burns a lot of calories.
- Yoga: Yoga can improve balance, flexibility, and strength while reducing stress and promoting relaxation. Relaxation comes from calming the sympathetic nervous system.
- Tai Chi: Tai chi is a low-impact exercise that combines gentle movements with deep breathing and relaxation techniques.
- Cycling: Cycling can improve cardiovascular health and is a low-impact way to build leg strength.
- Pilates: Pilates can improve flexibility, strength, and balance while reducing the risk of injury.
- Water aerobics: Water aerobics can improve cardiovascular health and is a low-impact way to build strength. It also burns a lot of calories.
- Dancing: Dancing is a fun way to improve cardiovascular health, balance, and coordination. The social nature also provides a calming aspect for people.
- Resistance band exercises: Resistance bands are a low-impact way to build strength and tone muscles.
- Chair exercises: Chair exercises can improve flexibility and strength while using a chair for support.
- Golf: Golf can improve cardiovascular health and hand-eye coordination. Even mini-golf is a fun and relaxing opportunity for exercise.
- Bowling: Bowling can improve balance and hand-eye coordination.
- Strength training: Strength training can improve bone density, reduce the risk of falls, and build muscle mass.
- Hiking: Hiking can improve cardiovascular health and is a great way to enjoy the outdoors. Being in nature is known to have a very positive psychological effect, which promotes health.
- Stretching: Stretching can improve flexibility, reduce the risk of injury, and promote relaxation. Start slow and do it regularly.
- Gardening: Gardening can improve flexibility and strength while enjoying time outdoors.
- Treadmill walking: Walking on a treadmill can improve cardiovascular health and is a low-impact way to build leg strength. It is useful if you don't have access to safe walking spaces or if you are short on time. You vary your speed and many treadmills also allow you to adjust the incline.
- Stair climbing: Climbing stairs can improve cardiovascular health and build leg strength. Stair climbing is a great way to burn a lot of calories.
- Pool Walking: Walking in a pool can improve cardiovascular health and is a low-impact way to build leg strength. The water provides gentle natural resistance and helps build muscle.
- Frisbee: Playing Frisbee can improve hand-eye coordination and is a fun way to get moving.
- Fitness Classes: Joining a fitness class can be a fun way to get exercise and meet new people. Look for classes that match your interests and fitness level, such as yoga, Pilates, or Zumba. The social aspect is very beneficial for you, both physically and mentally. Isolation is very unhealthy.
- Hobby: Trying a new physical hobby, such as rock climbing, surfing, or martial arts, can be a fun way to get exercise and challenge yourself.
- Find a friend: Activities are always more fun with a friend. Call a neighbor or friend to join you. The accountability will keep you motivated.
- Walk a dog: Another option is to get a dog! Your four-legged friend needs the exercise as much as you do. If your dog isn't an option, your local Humane Society always looks for volunteers to walk the animals there.
- Weight training: Using weights in your exercise regimen is excellent for building muscle strength and improving bone density. You can start by picking up canned vegetables in each hand right and doing exercises in your living room. Increase the weight over time, and move to 3lb or 5lb weights.
One of my patients started exercising and ultimately lost 50 lbs. When I asked her how she did it, she said that when she started, she could only exercise for 7 minutes. She made the commitment to, each week, add one more minute. Finally, after a year, she was up to an hour and she felt great!
Starting an exercise routine can be challenging, but be inspired! The benefits of regular physical activity are too great to ignore. Incorporating exercise into your daily routine doesn't have to be difficult or boring. To be successful, you really need to have a schedule and ideally, a partner that will hold you accountable. There are many fun and easy ways to get started, so start slow - even small changes can make a big difference.
