I can’t afford it
If you’re on a tight budget then forking out for a gym membership may not be on your list of priorities. But this doesn’t mean you can’t lead an active lifestyle as there are many FREE ways in which you can have fun whilst being active.
Most leisure centres offer a free taster session of some kind. Here at Active Nation we go one step further and offer a FREE activity pass for swimming, gym and exercise classes, giving you a brilliant opportunity to find an activity that suits you, at no cost.
It’s not as crazy as it sounds as dog owners have been found to be considerably more active than people who don’t own a dog. Not surprising when you consider that walking a dog for an hour can on average burn 200kcal. If you don’t have one of your own, why not ask a friend or a neighbour if you can walk their dog. If you don’t know anyone with a dog, check out apps like 👉 Borrow My Doggy which connect you with local dog owners.
We live in a beautiful country, packed full of green spaces so why not get outside and explore. A brisk walk can burn in excess of 300 Kcals an hour and comes with many health benefits all ages can enjoy.
Long walks are great but don’t forget you can easily incorporate walking into your daily lives to also feel the benefits. You’ll be amazed at how the steps mount up when you start to leave the car at home and walk to the shops, or get off the bus a stop earlier than usual or go for a walk during your lunch hour. Aim for 10,000 steps a day – seeing the steps rack up will motivate you to keep moving so don’t forget to grab yourself a pedometer or install an app on your smart phone.
There are over 2500 miles of National trails in England and Wales which are designated areas of natural beauty which can be explored in sections.
Combine walking with a treasure hunt and try Geocaching.
A fun FREE activity for individuals, the whole family, or groups of friends to enjoy together. Never heard of Geocaching? Download a geocaching app to navigate to geocache near you. Once you’ve found it, sign and date the log book, swap the treasure for an item with a greater value and log your experience online. You can also grab a cheap metal detector for coins and couple it with your walks for added motivation to get out there and find some lost treasures!
👉 Need more persuading? 15 reasons to love Geocaching
If you’ve been inspired by the many joggers or runners who regularly take to the parks and streets, why not set yourself a goal to complete the Couch to 5k programme. The app is free to download and over 9 weeks gradually introduces short bursts of jogging with walking. Followed correctly, at the end of 9 weeks you will be able to run 5k without stopping.
ParkLives is a free and easy way for you to get the most out of your local park. In fact, it’s much more than just a walk in the park – you’ll find a whole host of free activities from Tai Chi to Buggymums. Find a Parklives city near you.
As a busy working mother who was new to the area, Harj joined the Southampton BuggyMums group with her 2 year old son, Dylan. We caught up with Harj to find out about the positive effects Parklives and BuggyMums has had on their lives.
If you aren’t near one of our venues then don’t worry as there are a wealth of online workout videos that will enable you to have a workout in the comfort of your own home.
If you’re new to exercise, we’ve put together some basics to get you going.
