What if I hate the gym. So although I’m a big fan of being active I’m actually not a big fan of the classic gym workout. I know, shock, gasp! It’s no different really than the fact that I love vegetables, but can live without salad (it’s the leaves I’m not crazy about). How do I get around this? Well, I simply pick and choose what I love doing and then I don’t even realize that I’m in fact being healthy.  The good news is that you can be very active without ever stepping into the gym.

WHAT IF I HATE THE GYM

Take it outside. This may not be for everyone, but getting some fresh air is always a good start to a healthy fitness regime. You can go for a hike which is always a good option. Or, why not walk around your city? Grab a map and discover a new neighbourhood. I guarantee that you won’t even see the time going by as your brain is busily absorbing all of the new sights and sounds.

Join a class. No, this doesn’t have to be at your local gym. It took me two days of walking around my new city and asking around before I found a great ballet school with adult classes. The atmosphere is completely different than your average fitness center and everyone is there to just have fun, so there’s no pressure. If you aren’t into dance, that’s perfectly okay. Take a minute and think. What do you like to do or what have you secretly always wanted to do? Some ideas are: barre class, pole dancing, fencing, trampoline, indoor rock climbing. The possibilities are endless.

Be a kid again. Yes, you read that right! Remember how much fun you had with a hula hoop? So what are you waiting for? As a bonus, this is an activity that you can easily do at home. Here’s a tip, every time there’s a commercial on, jump up and roll your hips. You’ll break a sweat before you even know it. For an additional burn, look for a weighted hula hoop. How long has it been since you’ve jumped rope?

The good thing is that you’re not the only one who doesn’t like going to the gym and because of this, more and more classes are appearing that take you out of traditional workouts. In the end, it really doesn’t matter what you are doing and you can do something different every day, if you want. It’s all about being consistent with getting off the couch and starting to move!

What’s your favourite non-gym workout?
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