Everybody knows that playing sports is a great way to stay fit and healthy and it’s a good social activity as well. There are so many different sports that you could get involved with but a lot of people struggle to find one that fits. If you don’t find a sport that you really enjoy, it’s hard to stick to it because it feels like a chore. But even if you think that you’ve tried all of the sports out there, you’re probably wrong. You might have tried all of the conventional sports, but have you tried any of these lesser known sports that are great for fitness?
Curling
You’ve probably seen curling on the Olympics but most people don’t think that it’s any good for fitness because it’s quite a slow sport. But if you actually think about it, you have to hold a lunge position for an extended period as you throw the stone. You’re also engaging your body the entire time that you’re on the ice, trying to balance properly. There’s also a bit of cardio involved when you’re brushing the ice, so curling actually gives you a good all around workout. Not to mention that it’s a great sport for improving your hand-eye coordination. If you search online, you might be able to find a local curling club that practices at an ice rink nearby.
Pickleball
Pickleball might sound like a bit of a strange name, but it’s a great sport that gives you a brilliant workout. It’s difficult to explain what pickleball is to somebody that’s never played it but the easiest way to explain it is a combination of all of the other racquet sports that you’ve played before like tennis, badminton, squash, and table tennis. Check out pickleballwiz for a more in-depth explanation of the rules. Even though the game has been around since 1965 and there are over 2.5 million players worldwide, most people don’t know it, which is a real shame. It’s such a good workout because it’s an incredibly active sport and it’s very easy to learn how to play.
Fencing
Fencing is often seen as an old fashioned sport that people don’t really do any more, but that’s not true. It’s a very fast paced sport so you get a good cardio workout. It also involves a lot of precision and those short, sharp movements are great for toning muscles. There are also a lot of lunges and powerful movements in fencing as well, so you’ll build muscles as well as toning them, giving you a good all around workout. During a fencing match, you’ll be doing a lot of short bursts of energy which is one of the most effective ways to exercise. You’ve probably heard of high intensity interval training where you’ll do short bursts of activity followed by a short break. It’s far more effective than sustained exercise and you’ll get the same effect if you do fencing.
A lot of people think that they don’t really like sports and they’ll have to find another way of staying fit. But most of the time, they just haven’t found the right sport for them yet.
