Not The Gym Type? Try These Sports For A Great Workout

Like countless other people, you may have made your new year’s resolution to get into better shape. However, doing this requires regular physical activity, and regular physical activity requires a certain degree of self-discipline. If you’re finding it tough to get yourself down to the gym every morning, all is not lost! Here are some great alternative sports for getting fit and staying interested…

Basketball

You may not be a crack shot when it comes to actually sinking baskets, but playing basketball is a great way to get yourself in shape. When you’re not taking shots, there’s a lot of running and jumping, which will help a lot with your speed and agility, traits which can come in handy in a range of other sports. Getting competent, as with anything, requires practice, but the knowledge of all the good you’re doing for your body should keep spurring you on. Whether you just shoot some hoops with your friends on the weekends or join a local league team, playing basketball is great for conditioning your body and losing a few pounds.

Horseback Riding

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When you think of sports which get you in shape, horse riding probably doesn’t spring to mind straight away. However, talk to any experienced rider, and they’ll tell you that it’s a serious workout! The proper movements and posture for riding a horse will require a lot of flexibility, and as you work on your technique this will naturally improve over time. Your hips, hamstrings and adductors will all get a great workout every time you get on a horse. Furthermore, regular horse riding will also be great for your leg, core and arm muscles. The rider regularly has to squeeze the horse’s midsection with their thighs in order to stay in the saddle, and control the horse in certain manoeuvres. Long sessions will also help with cardio somewhat, and work on your overall stamina. For some of you, this may the perfect excuse to fulfil your childhood dream of owning a horse! They certainly aren’t cheap though, once you add up the cost of the animal, their care, and policies like this Stoneways horse insurance.

Tennis

One of the most popular sports in the world, you’ll have no problem finding a tennis club or private tutor in your local area. Even if you don’t find a coach, online tennis lessons are a suitable option. Plus, you don’t need too much to get involved with tennis either. It’s not like other sports where loads of equipment is required. All you really need is a tennis ball, racket, and some good shoes! Although a good standard of equipment can be pretty expensive, tennis is a brilliant way to make sure you’re getting enough exercise, and also has a lot of appeal for some people who like one-on-one competitions. If you’re not sure where to find equipment that’s the best value for money then take a look on radds because they have guides on how to find the best equipment for you and also basic guides on how to play tennis. This is one sport where bad habits are pretty hard to get out of, so I strongly recommend getting lessons. Private lessons have their advantages, but can be extremely expensive, and you’ll miss out on some of the networking opportunities that come with group lessons. If you’re the competitive type, it won’t take long for you to be good enough for a tournament or smaller competition! My friend was telling me the other day about some great Baltimore MD Tennis Lessons she had recently. If you’re in the area you should check it out!

If you thought that you’d never find a passion for physical exercise, give one of these great activities a try!