7 of the Most Fun Activities with Massive Health Benefits
This is a collaborative post
Most of us could use a little more exercise. You might be one of those people who think exercising is hard work, just hurts and is boring. It doesn’t need to be. You just need to find a suitable activity for yourself and stick with it. If you love the outdoors, you can go mountain biking. For the indoorsy types, there’s VR gaming, and if you crave social interaction, you can jog with friends. Whatever your preference, here are some of the most fun activities with health benefits.
Outdoor Extreme Sports
You might think of snowboarding when you think of extreme sports, but there is a broad list of sports considered extreme, even though they aren’t really. The most extreme sports include:
- Abseiling
- Bungee Jumping
- Canyoning
- Diving
- Motocross
- Mountain Biking
- Mountaineering
Yet inline skating, skateboarding and paintball are also considered extreme sports. Learning how to roller skate is like riding a bike, but skating works almost every muscle group in your body, unlike a bicycle. So, in addition to the fun and social aspect, you get a great workout.
Dancing
Dancing has always been popular, but shows like Dancing on Ice and Strictly Come Dancing have made it a huge spectacle and one of the world’s most beloved pastimes. While millions of people take part in weekly dance classes for fun and social involvement, the movements associated with dances promote serotonin which helps combat depression and anxiety.
Swimming and Water Aerobics
Like skating, swimming works almost every muscle in your body. Therefore, there are massive workout benefits to swimming. Yet swimming laps are boring for many people. However, you can still get a great workout with tremendous cardiovascular benefits by taking part in water aerobics. Almost all public swimming and sports centres hold regular classes at a minimal price.
VR Gaming
Since the invention of the Oculus Rift in 2012, VR gaming devices like PSVR and Vive HTC have seen a lot of releases. While VR gaming isn’t where most gamers would like it to be, the movements required to play most can be exhausting. Try beating Rocky Balboa in Creed: Rise to Glory and convince a gamer that playing games is bad for you.
Video Game Exercise
Further to VR gaming, specialized exercise games are fantastic for increasing strength and cardiovascular circulation. Again, Nintendo devices are the clear leader when it comes to exercise video games. It’s astonishing how much exercise variation is included in Ring Fit Adventure for Switch. You will get a full-body workout while playing through squats, crunches and stationary jogging.
Contact Sports
Playing a sport isn’t for everyone, but there are massive health benefits for those who enjoy them. Games like football and rugby will work your muscles to the limit. Additionally, the amount of running involved works to reduce body fat which is excellent if you want to lose weight. Further, strength, stamina and speed will increase in line with coordination and concentration when performed regularly.
Jogging and Running
Of course, one of the most straightforward and most enjoyable activities you can do is run if you are able, or jog. Many people find solace and peace of mind when running. This lowers stress and anxiety and is a great way to forget about your troubles. But jogging is also a fantastic group activity that allows you to form relationships and get the social interaction you need.
