It’s the middle of the year and January resolutions seem far behind us, but June is a great time to reflect on the year so far and set ourselves goals and challenges for the rest of the year. So, this Locker acts as a personal, mid-year health and fitness review! Back in January, we published a ‘New Year, New Exercise’ Locker which looked at some fun new ways to get fit. Now that summer is finally here, we want to encourage you to find a fun summer sport to keep you moving.
Begin by asking yourself two key questions: 1) what health habits have you been doing this year that you are proud of, or have enjoyed? Maybe it’s healthier eating, giving up bad habits, or finding a way to work-out that you love. 2) What would you like to achieve by the end of this year? With these in mind, have a think about some of the fun new ways you can get fit in the sun:
Team sports
Cricket:
One of the world’s most-loved games, Cricket is immense fun and can improve endurance, stamina, physical fitness and hand eye-coordination. It also involves short bursts of sprinting and throwing which is good for cardio-vascular health, whilst being accessible to a range of ages and abilities.
Football:
With the World Cup around the corner, June is the perfect time to hit the pitch and channel your inner Beckham. Football helps to increase aerobic capacity and cardiovascular health; lowers body fat and improves muscle tone; builds strength, flexibility and endurance, increases muscle and bone strength. So, if you fancy keeping fit with a competitive element then football is brilliant! Sessions run at most Active Nation venues ranging from youth sessions, to league teams and matches and the introduction of walking football for supporters aged 50+.
Just for you
Running:
Running is great if you want to set your own pace, fit exercise around your schedule, and get fit for free. If you need the motivation and support of others then a running club might be for you. If you’re near Southampton, Park Lives offer free Couch to 5k running clubs. If you’re new to running, check out our beginner’s guide to running.
Walking:
Walking is simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get more active and improve your overall health. It’s ideal for people of all ages and fitness levels who want to move more. Regular walking has been shown to reduce the risk of chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, stroke, and some forms of cancer.
Walking is also one of the easiest forms of exercise to access. All you need is the time and motivation to get walking, either in the gym or out in the fresh air. As your fitness improves you can start to increase your pace to a quicker race walk if you’re feeling confident!
Make A Splash
Swimming:
Swimming is great for shaping up. Even a gentle swim can burn over 200Kcal in 30 minutes and a fast front crawl can burn as many calories as an 8mph run! No matter what your age, weight or physical ability, swimming and water-based activities will provide a great overall workout. Active Nation swimming pools cater for everyone, from young babies in our parent and toddler sessions to adult lessons and one-to-one sessions. So come and get fit whilst having fun in one of our pools!
Sailing:
Sailing is a thrilling sport that welcomes participation from people of all backgrounds, ages and abilities. There are many different ways to get started in sailing through Discover Sailing sessions – including those at Active Nation’s Southampton Water Activities Centre. Sailing is not only exhilarating, but it’s also a great way to get fit. Manning a sailing boat is harder work than you may think, but the brilliant news is that you are exercising without even realising it!
Kayaking:
If you love the great outdoors and are looking for a new activity adventure, then paddle sports are a great way to get started. Kayaking is a low impact activity that can lead to improved cardiovascular fitness; improved muscle strength, particularly in the back, arms, shoulders and chest; and improved torso and leg strength. More importantly it leaves you with a permanent smile on your face and the motivation to do more!
Challenge yourself
There are loads of big sporting events, fundraisers and races that you can enter yourself into, in order to set a challenge to motivate yourself to train. If you’re feeling brave, why not sign yourself up for our next Active Warrior event?
Find out what your local Active Nation venue has on offer and challenge yourself to take up something new this month!
