3 New Exercises To Try This Summer
Summer tends to inspire more activity and time spent outdoors. If you’re looking for a new way to exercise, give either of these outdoor options a try.
Water Aerobics
You may be thinking that’s so 80s, but water aerobics are still popular for a reason. People who exercise in the water can burn as much body fat and build as much muscle as those who exercise on land. They also stay cool!
Water aerobics are ideal if you’ve been a couch potato all winter as it is a low impact workout and very repetitive. Despite that, you’re still sure to build muscle and burn up to 300 calories per class as water has 12 times the resistance of air.
Sign up for a class at your local fitness center. Bonus points if they have an outdoor pool!
Obstacle Course Racing
Working out by racing through an obstacle course adds additional challenge and fun to any exercise routine. You’ll engage in a full body workout from going up, down, around, through, over, and under- movements that target each area of the body.
If you don’t have an obstacle course nearby, follow this easy guide on how to incorporate obstacle course exercises into your workout routine.
Qigong or T’ai Chi
Qigong and T’ai Chi are an ancient Chinese mind, body, and spiritual practice using Qi or Chi, “subtle breath,” and Gong, skill cultivated through steady practice. It involves one’s mental and physical health by integrating posture, movement, breathing, self-massage, sound, and focused intent.
The benefits of both include a better flow of energy in the meridians, similar to the results of acupuncture, and decreased blood pressure and chronic illness.
The differences between Qigong and T’ai Chi are how the form is practiced, how energy is manipulated, and how the body posture is conditioned.
You can find outdoor classes at your local park during the summer months, or at many yoga studios.
Put on that sunscreen and get moving!
Meet Rootasters:
Meg is a dreamer, entrepreneur, and homesteader based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. She loves her cats, feasting, and road trips in her green VW Bug.