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Many gym facilities have been shut down to help limit the spread of the Covid-19 virus during the pandemic period. Coming out of that challenging time, it is taking quite a while for things to pick up speed and for gyms to resume their regular activities. Many have perhaps wondered what they could do to make up for the lost opportunities of exercising, staying fit, and connecting with friends. With the gyms under lock and key, there is a wide list of creative options to explore to simultaneously catch fun, stay fit and healthy and also meet up with people. Here are some interesting ideas worth considering:

Swimming

Taking on deepwater aerobics can be just what you need. You don’t need a pool of Olympic dimensions; a personal or community pool will do. If you do not know how to swim, then this might be just the perfect time to take up swimming lessons. Swimming offers the full-body workout opportunity while taking out the risks of straining muscles or having injuries from the use of mechanical objects.

Use exercise videos

The use of exercise videos and workout tapes helps to mimic the gym experience. This you can do alone or with family and friends. Also, there are dance games that require you and your “opponent” to make certain dance moves within a given time to attain scores. This is a form of healthy competition that simultaneously serves as a means to burn calories while having fun. All these from the privacy of your own house. Get friends and family members to join in on the action and that way, it gets merrier.

Make use of public courts

Another option asides from using the gym, public courts are equipped with basketball and tennis courts. These are games that can be played by many people and in doing so, you can make new friends, connect with old acquaintances and lose some calories. 

Hiking

For those who do not have a problem with more extreme options, hiking can be a good way to exercise and learn. Hiking is in fact a very creative method of exercising as you can wrap up many other activities into one. Activities like walking, running and climbing. It is also best if it’s done with a group of people. Ensure not to go beyond your physical limits and beyond terrains, you are unfamiliar with so that some safety can be ensured for you and others in your group.

Gardening

This is especially for the elderly who do not need to engage in much more strenuous alternatives. Gardening can be a very good opportunity to get creative with your home while staying healthy. Gardening activities can help you burn up to 300 calories per hour. It also involves a lot of joint movements and muscle activity. Couples can find time to do it together as a way of bonding.

Running

There are two ways you can go about this – either with the use of a treadmill at home or running outdoors. Whichever option best suits you, lace up those sneakers and hit the ground. Short distance bursts or long-distance jugs, go as fast or slow as your legs can carry you and as far as you can push yourself. Running outdoors also gives you the avenue of “running” into fellow runners like you. There is always strength and motivation in numbers.

Cycling

Cycling is one exercise that gets the heart pumping and the circulation going. The leg muscles activated when cycling are muscles that aid the return of blood to the heart from the lower body. Cycling helps tone the muscles and can be a healthy way to compete and have fun with friends and family.

Yoga classes

Yoga is one exercise method that involves muscle movements and breathing techniques. Taking up yoga classes outside the gym and with a group is an opportunity to improve your strength, flexibility, and balance. It is particularly recommended for people suffering from back pain as it helps relieve backaches. The elderly who require little physical exertion can also take up yoga. Yoga helps in easing pain from arthritis, improves sleep, and reduces stress.

Some other people may choose to equip their homes fully with all the gym gears they need, like dumbbells, barbells, and benches. Regardless of which exercise alternative you choose to go with, the clear goal is to burn calories, stay fit and healthy while connecting with other people. It is advised that 30 mins of moderate physical activity every day is enough for the heart. However, if you wish to lose more weight or gain muscle mass, then more rigorous exercise routines will have to be followed. In doing so, ensure that your environment is safe enough and that guides and tutors are present for the other options that may pose more risks such as swimming and yoga.