8 Unconventional Exercises & Their Benefits
Does the cold weather make you want to hibernate? As temperatures drop, lethargy is all too common. You don’t want to jog around the block when it is freezing and blustery outside, after all.
Fortunately, you can embrace some of today’s unconventional, more engaging exercises to breathe new life into your routine. Some of them engage several muscle groups to save time, while others are a test of your reflexes and endurance. Whatever you choose, you will have a blast while burning major calories. Check out the eight exercises below.
1. Mini-intervals
Do you have the motivation but not the time? Don’t throw in the towel just yet. You can squeeze a heart-pounding workout into 10-minute intervals throughout the day.
Research indicates that miniature intervals of 10-minute increments provide the same health benefits as a 30-minute workout. Instead of sitting around on your work break, take a brisk walk through the building. There are also apps you can also that feature short workouts that are only 10 minutes long.
2. Compound movements
One way you can maximize your limited workout time is by performing compound movements. In this type of strength training, you engage multiple muscle groups at the same time. This full-body focus helps amp up your cardio as well, providing an additional benefit.
Try performing a squat with an overhead press to work your quadriceps and deltoid muscles simultaneously. Combine biceps curls with a forward lunge and lateral raises with a side lunge.
3. Total bodyART
BodyART uses your weight to give you a total strength and flexibility workout. With this exercise, you will also enjoy cardiovascular benefits and deep breathing for relaxation. The practice marries ancient martial arts principles with dance, yoga and even Pilates-inspired movements.
You can choose from two different levels and a variety of styles when you give this workout a go. Each format provides slightly different benefits, so try a new version each day of the week to move muscles you forgot you had.
4. Aquatic high-intensity
What can you do if rheumatoid arthritis or another chronic pain condition makes working out on land painful? Head to the water, where the natural buoyancy of the fluid supports the majority of your body weight.
This assistance cushions your joints, making it easier to work up a sweat — even if you remain cool in the pool. The constant temperature employs thermodynamics to increase the range of motion of your joints without causing you pain. The pressure of the water helps your circulation, which can make exercise more comfortable if you have issues with your veins.
5. Playground exercises
Who says kids get to have all the fun? Sure, some locations have specialty playgrounds for adults, but you don’t have to live near a hotspot to get in on the fun. Anywhere with swings and a sliding board will do.
Work your core balance by standing on the swings. You can perform lower abdominal exercises by hooking your feet under the seat and raising your legs as you hold on to the chains. Climb up the sliding board backward to pump up your hamstrings and glute muscles.
6. Parkour
What is the fastest way to get from point A to point B? Why, a straight line, of course! Plus, you can strengthen all the muscles of your body and get your heart pumping by practicing parkour.
In this fitness trend, your goal is to travel over obstacles. You might climb or scramble. You might leap. Either way, you will improve your coordination and your level of fitness.
7. Rage yoga
Did you ever have one of those days that made you want to scream? If you value your career, melting down at the office is inadvisable. After work, though, you can head to a rage yoga class to release some stress.
You won’t hear soothing, melodic tunes or see signs warning you to be silent on the studio door — you will encounter people shouting it all out. When you leave, you feel renewed and relaxed.
8. Rocking fitness
Maybe you live for music, but dancing isn’t your groove. If you have always loved playing air drums, check out a Pound Fitness class to burn calories while jamming to the beat.
You will tone your entire body, including your arms — but you will get so caught up in the music, you won’t notice you are burning calories.
Wintertime is the best time to get in on a hot new workout trend. Bust away the bad-weather blues and elevate your fitness with these ideas.
Article written by Dylan Bartlett. He writes about food, sports and similar topics on his site. Check out Just a Regular Guide for more fun content, or follow Bartlett on Twitter @theregularguide for frequent updates.
This article was written by the guest author listed at the end of the article.