Last week we showed you some fun and creative ways to get regular exercise without a gym membership.
Your reactions were so good that we decided to take it a step further and give you 5 more ideas for simple and affordable workouts!
1. Download fitness smartphone apps and exercise in the comfort of your own home
Smartphones nowadays are much more than just telephones or personal diaries. They do everything from booking flights to reminding us to return those library books.
So it was only a matter of time before many fitness-related apps became available, either at a very low price (between 1 and 4 dollars at the most), or completely free!
There are apps out there to plan your meals, count your calories, prepare a workout, track your physical activities, etc.
There are way too many apps out there for us to try to list them all, so it’s best to do some quick research on what best fits your needs and your mood. Maybe a friend or a cousin can recommend a tried-and-tested app that they like?
Don’t forget that there are A LOT of people out there constantly trying out all of these apps, and they even write online reviews!
Here are a few resources to get you started: Lostintechnology.com, NYtimes.com, Bodyandsoul.com, About.com, Mashable.com, Makeuseof.com, and Topappreviews.com.
2. Play futsal in large groups to cut the costs
If you’re more into organised sports, chances are you’ve played futsal with friends before.
Even though the field is smaller compared to a regular football pitch, it’s a much higher-paced game; running back and forth, alternating between trotting and sprinting, making key passes, alternating strategies. All of these elements make futsal a very fun and intense sport to play with buddies!
Unfortunately, futsal pitches are not free, usually running between 70 and 100 dollars an hour.
A good way to reduce the cost is to get as many friends as possible to join the game. Between 10 to 14 people is a perfect number of people to make the game both enjoyable and affordable.
Organising your friends into teams also allows you to develop team-building skills, and who knows, your team may even evolve into its own amateur league!
And when your friends can’t make it, remember that futsal players are very open and friendly, they usually don’t mind including a new-comer into their team as long as you foot your part of the bill.
Here are a few videos to get familiar with tactics and tricks:
3. Use everyday objects to create a work-out space at home
Working out doesn’t necessarily require top-notch professional equipment - it doesn’t even require a huge space!
Many everyday objects can be used as exercise equipment. All you need is some imagination:
Water bottles, laundry detergent bottles, milk bottles can be filled with water or sand to be used as weights of different sizes (arm exercises), walls can be used as pillars to stretch before and after exercising, staircases inside or outside your home can be climbed up and down for cardio exercise, couches can be used as leverage when you are doing stomach crunches, and heavy chairs can be used for stability when toning your legs with leg stretches.
Another way is to find full work-out videos on YouTube and following the aerobics/fitness lessons. Affordable and FUN!
4. Parkour
Parkour started out as an internet trend and quickly became a full-fledged sports activity that took Singapore by storm.
Parkour is not just about pushing your physical abilities to the max, it’s also about exploring/discovering new urban landscapes, adapting to one’s environment, and building strong friendships/relationships with fellow Parkour enthusiasts.
Parkour now has its own leagues, teams, and internet communities that are quite open to people interested in knowing more or in partaking in adrenaline-fueled activities.
Contact them, and maybe soon you’ll have your own video!
5. Use video games to get your daily dose of exercise
Long gone are the days when playing video games meant sitting around drinking litres of soda and eating lots of chips.
Advances in technology have made it possible for some video-gaming to count as legitimate exercise, sometimes even more.
“Exergaming”, as some call it, is about using agility, reflexes, concentration, and physical strength to play - and win - a video game.
Video games specifically designed to make exercise fun now allow you to dance, skateboard, box, golf, bowl, shoot, hula-hoop, fight, stretch, and everything in between.
There are many consoles out there, and people usually have their own preferences, depending on price, games, and other personal criteria.
Here’s an interesting guide on the different options.
The best part is you can do all of these activities either by yourself or in the company of others, which keeps things fun and challenging!
As you can see from all these ideas, working out doesn’t require a lot of money, space, or effort. All it requires is determination and a little imagination!
We covered some interesting ideas, but you probably have many more! Share them with us in the comments below! You can also give us your feedback on Facebook and Twitter.
