Suggestions for fun home exercises that are not just exercise routines
September 26, 2015 1:09 AM Subscribe
Like the title says, what are some fun home exercises that aren’t just workout routines but more in the vein of yoga or bellydancing or even pole-dancing (those are the only three I can think of)?
I've been doing beginner yoga on and off for years but find myself generally bored with it that I only ever do it sporadically. I would really love to find something to do in the privacy of my home that gets me less sedentary. No particular fitness goals in mind.
I've learned long ago that I can’t stick to exercise for the sake of exercise for very long before saying screw it, so I’m looking for something more fun or creative than conventional exercise (cardio routines, bodyweight exercises).
*I know someone's going to suggest HIIT, that's not what I'm looking for
I've been doing beginner yoga on and off for years but find myself generally bored with it that I only ever do it sporadically. I would really love to find something to do in the privacy of my home that gets me less sedentary. No particular fitness goals in mind.
I've learned long ago that I can’t stick to exercise for the sake of exercise for very long before saying screw it, so I’m looking for something more fun or creative than conventional exercise (cardio routines, bodyweight exercises).
*I know someone's going to suggest HIIT, that's not what I'm looking for
Zumba!
posted by rpfields at 2:16 AM on September 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by rpfields at 2:16 AM on September 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Wii fit
posted by aetg at 3:29 AM on September 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by aetg at 3:29 AM on September 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Replace a leaf blower with yourself and a broom or appropriate rake.
posted by amtho at 3:47 AM on September 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by amtho at 3:47 AM on September 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: don't have a wii but that's a good idea, aetg.
amtho - not looking for chores, that suggestion clearly doesn't fit the criteria.
posted by atinna at 3:51 AM on September 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
amtho - not looking for chores, that suggestion clearly doesn't fit the criteria.
posted by atinna at 3:51 AM on September 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Shovelglove?
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 5:03 AM on September 26, 2015
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 5:03 AM on September 26, 2015
If you get the Wii, you can also get a JustDance game (there are a bunch of different ones available with different songs)--the dances are super fun to do.
posted by correcaminos at 5:15 AM on September 26, 2015
posted by correcaminos at 5:15 AM on September 26, 2015
Corny but I liked them: TurboJam. Combination of dancing, punching and some kickboxing.
posted by kinetic at 5:15 AM on September 26, 2015
posted by kinetic at 5:15 AM on September 26, 2015
Best answer: I always recommend Keaira LaShae because you will be distracted by the fact that you're learning dance moves and after doing it a few times, you'll suddenly bust out moves when you're out with friends and they'll be like 'whaaaat?' I like this Latin one and the sexy dance workout.
Kathak Dancing (Indian Classical Dance) is an amazing thing to learn. Then once you have learned the moves, you can just find the right music and dance/practice to it.
This workout makes me think of The Omen on happy pills and i'm not sure what you think of Rebounding but I do think that watching crappy TV and just jumping on a trampoline is great fun and does the job (apparently it's very good for cellulite). So it's not really the exercise distracting you but the TV.
You could start teaching yourself ballet.
You could learn all of the karate katas up to black belt. I learned when I was younger. Perhaps not enough of a workout, though.
Lastly, if it is at all possible for you to do a team sport once a week, you could spend your other days practicing those skills at home like with soccer - keepy uppies are fun. Or try self-tennis (he has great videos).These sorts of things are 'distracting' in the sense that you'll be working towards becoming more skilled at something whilst keeping fit.
posted by ihaveyourfoot at 5:27 AM on September 26, 2015 [13 favorites]
Kathak Dancing (Indian Classical Dance) is an amazing thing to learn. Then once you have learned the moves, you can just find the right music and dance/practice to it.
This workout makes me think of The Omen on happy pills and i'm not sure what you think of Rebounding but I do think that watching crappy TV and just jumping on a trampoline is great fun and does the job (apparently it's very good for cellulite). So it's not really the exercise distracting you but the TV.
You could start teaching yourself ballet.
You could learn all of the karate katas up to black belt. I learned when I was younger. Perhaps not enough of a workout, though.
Lastly, if it is at all possible for you to do a team sport once a week, you could spend your other days practicing those skills at home like with soccer - keepy uppies are fun. Or try self-tennis (he has great videos).These sorts of things are 'distracting' in the sense that you'll be working towards becoming more skilled at something whilst keeping fit.
posted by ihaveyourfoot at 5:27 AM on September 26, 2015 [13 favorites]
not looking for chores, that suggestion clearly doesn't fit the criteria.
Sorry, I happen to think sweeping and/or raking can be very fun :) You're outside, the amazing earthy smells are going on, there's a breeze, sometimes someone walks by and says hi, you can listen to music if you want...
Anyway, if your other exercise doesn't work out shoulders and/or cardio enough, this could be a supplement. It's very relaxing, you actually can see the results of your effort immediately, and you probably already have the equipment.
posted by amtho at 9:36 AM on September 26, 2015
Sorry, I happen to think sweeping and/or raking can be very fun :) You're outside, the amazing earthy smells are going on, there's a breeze, sometimes someone walks by and says hi, you can listen to music if you want...
Anyway, if your other exercise doesn't work out shoulders and/or cardio enough, this could be a supplement. It's very relaxing, you actually can see the results of your effort immediately, and you probably already have the equipment.
posted by amtho at 9:36 AM on September 26, 2015
Along the lines of the Wii Fit, there are dance games for every console. The Dance Central series, using the Kinect, is really fun and very active. It was made by Harmonix, the people that brought you Guitar Hero. You can get an old Xbox 360 pretty cheaply, and it can be a media box, too.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:39 AM on September 26, 2015
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:39 AM on September 26, 2015
I love Robin Long for short Pilates routines - you can find them on You Tube.
posted by rainbowbrite at 12:17 PM on September 26, 2015
posted by rainbowbrite at 12:17 PM on September 26, 2015
Look for Youtube videos that are basic intro lessons in different kinds of dance - Appalachian clogging, Cape Breton step, Irish step or sean nos, Scottish highland, club dance moves, banghra, etc.
posted by aimedwander at 5:47 PM on September 26, 2015
posted by aimedwander at 5:47 PM on September 26, 2015
Seconding hooping. I recommend Colorado Hoops if you're in the U.S. They are responsive to messages and ship very quickly. Get an HDPE 3/4th inch, taped. For diameter, the recommended starting measure is the height from the floor to your belly button, plus one or two inches if you want it to be easier.
Go on to youtube and search for 'hoop dance' and you should see a lot of inspiring videos. There's millions of trick tutorials on youtube as well, so it'll be a long time before you run out of new stuff to do. Here's a few videos to get you started.
posted by tofu_crouton at 7:11 PM on September 28, 2015
Go on to youtube and search for 'hoop dance' and you should see a lot of inspiring videos. There's millions of trick tutorials on youtube as well, so it'll be a long time before you run out of new stuff to do. Here's a few videos to get you started.
posted by tofu_crouton at 7:11 PM on September 28, 2015
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posted by Solomon at 1:41 AM on September 26, 2015