Boredom Busters

Workouts you'll actually enjoy
  • 20 Jun - 26 Jun, 2020
  • Mag The Weekly
  • FITNESS

Are you struggling with your workouts? It can be hard to stay motivated when your routine’s become redundant. Exercise doesn’t have to be an uphill battle. It can be a challenging yet fun experience.

Instead of throwing in the towel, switch things up. Try new styles or movements that will keep you physically and mentally engaged. Variety is your secret weapon.

Here are 12 workouts guaranteed to keep boredom at bay.

Boot camp

Inspired by military training, boot camp focuses on functional exercises that build strength and endurance. You’ll quickly transition from one movement to another, forcing your body to adapt. It’s an effective way to scorch a lot of calories in a short amount of time.

Dance

From Zumba to ballet, you can get a full body workout by simply moving to the music. Dancing elevates your heart rate, burns calories, and helps build muscle. You can take a formal class at a gym or workout from the comfort of your own home. With DVDs, apps, and streaming, the possibilities are endless.

Boxing

Boxing of any kind – traditional, kickboxing, or Muay Thai – is a one-two punch of fitness and self-defense. Modeled after professional fighters, it’s a challenging cardio workout designed to increase stamina and improve hand-eye coordination. There are a variety of training methods that include the heavy bag, speed bag, shadow boxing, and sparring.

Swimming

Did you know swimming burns more than 400 calories per hour? It’s also a great workout for individuals with chronic illnesses, poor bone density, or joint issues. Swimming is low-impact and low-maintenance. Just bring your body, no equipment needed.

Hiking

Hiking pushes you beyond the confines of a gym and into nature. Embracing the great outdoors can help clear your head and strengthen your lower body. The beautiful backdrop and fresh air will do your mind and body some good.

Ice skating

Don’t let the elegant moves fool you, ice skating is an aerobic exercise that puts your legs through the wringer. You’ll increase strength and endurance while performing classy choreography. Head to your local ice rink and put your best foot forward.

CrossFit

This workout isn’t for the timid. Like boot camp, it’s a high-intensity program that emphasises functional fitness, while pushing your body to its limit. CrossFit borrows elements from gymnastics, weightlifting, and rowing to deliver a dynamic workout guaranteed to keep you on your toes.

Treadmill

Yes, you can make the treadmill interesting. Turn a boring walk or jog into a heart-pumping HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) workout. Change the speed or incline for an extra challenge. For muscle-building, add squats or weights. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box.

Jumping ropes

The classic schoolyard activity is typically not viewed as a good exercise tactic by adults, but it makes for an effective, quick, and cheap home workout. Jumping rope for just 10 minutes can actually be about as effective as running a six- to eight-minute mile. Beyond that, it is fantastic for your heart, and a lot lower-impact than other types of cardio workouts. What are you waiting for? Channel those middle school recess vibes, and get to it, fam.

Burpees

Personally, burpees are one of those exercises we will forever equally loathe and respect. People generally avoid them for the exact reasons that you should be doing them. Burpees target the entire body and combine elements of strength and cardio into a single exercise. As a result, they provide arguably the best bang for your buck for any exercise movement. Burpees are effective, efficient, and everything that you need packed into one movement.

Aerial yoga

If working out Cirque-du-Soleil-style sounds enticing – and being upside down doesn't make you ill – aerial yoga might be for you. Aerial yoga is a fun combination of something new in the fitness environment to put your body in different positions and new ways you never thought you could. Apart from being fun, it also improves your flexibility and strengthens your core muscles.

Diamond reverse crunches

This "mattress-sizing" move doesn't get enough credit, just because it can be done from the comfort of your bed. However, diamond reverse crunches are highly effective and not at all boring. To do them, lie on your back (atop your bed, or anywhere else you feel comfortable) with your arms along your sides, palms facing down. Bring your feet together and open your knees out to the sides so the space between your legs resembles a diamond. Press into your palms and brace your core as you raise your feet up over your hips. From this position, lift your hips up off the bed to drive your feet straight up toward the ceiling. With control, bring your hips back to the bed, without dropping your feet — that's one rep. Think you can handle more?

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