Four Creative Workouts that Will Spice Up Your Routine

When it comes to working out, you may just be thinking about going to the gym and getting on a machine or lifting weights. But in reality, there are so many different types of workouts for every person and preference. So if you’re not a gym junkie, don’t sweat it. We’re breaking down four out-of-the-box workouts that anyone could try to get the ultimate exercise experience.

Dance

Over the years, dance has been gaining more traction as a creative and healthy form of exercise. And with TikTok soaring to popularity, dance has now exploded as a great form of physical activity that anyone can try. There are tons of different dance workouts you can tap into (no pun intended) including Hip Hop, Zumba, Cardio Dance, Barre Workout, and more.

And dancing is not just for cardio, dance classes like Barre Fitness incorporate ballet moves with Pilates, yoga, and strength training. Dancing has some fantastic health benefits including better cardiovascular health, improved balance and coordination, stronger muscles and bones, reduced stress, enhanced mood and energy, and even neurological benefits like improved memory and lower risk of dementia.¹  

Many gyms and fitness centers now offer dance-based classes including big names like Equinox and LA Fitness. And if you don’t have any experience, don’t worry! All are welcome and there are plenty of beginner’s classes to get you started.

Beach Yoga

If you’re looking for a rejuvenating, precision-based workout, try your hand at beach yoga. Beach yoga is offered in states like Florida and New Jersey, and any state with a beach really. Beach yoga is a fantastic way to exercise because it combines the health benefits of yoga with those of being at the beach. Yep, you read that right, being at the beach is not just great for tanning, it’s actually good for physical and mental health. A 2021 study looking at survey data from 18 different countries demonstrated that visits to green, inland-blue, and coastal- blue spaces were associated with positive well-being and reduced mental distress.²

Nature is known to be good for both mental and physical health. Combine that with yoga, and you’ve got a recipe for serenity and positive well-being. Yoga is of course famous for its many health benefits including stress relief, improved mental well-being, and improved attention and concentration.³ So if you live near a beach, check out your local beach yoga classes, you’ll leave your morning workout feeling calm, refreshed, and ready for the day.

Puppy Yoga

The most adorable workout yet, puppy yoga is trending online, and for good reason. Just like the name implies, puppy yoga is a yoga class with a bunch of puppies. I mean, does it get better than that? Puppy yoga is popular in places like Miami and LA, but you can really find it anywhere if you look for it. As we’ve said, yoga has its own mental health benefits, and so does playing with puppies. There has been significant research demonstrating the mental health benefits of interacting with dogs. One study published in the Neurologia journal analyzed data from 23 different articles on neurorehabilitation and concluded that among other benefits, animal-assisted interventions (including dogs) reduced stress, anxiety, and loneliness for individuals with various mental disorders.⁴

So if you’re looking for a workout that will give you an extra kick of endorphins and cuteness overload, sign up for puppy yoga. If you want to get even crazier, goat yoga exists too, and we hear it’s just as fun.

Bungee Fitness

Lastly, a new and innovative workout you can try to shake things up is bungee fitness. Bungee workout classes involve attaching a bungee cord connected to the ceiling to your waist with a harness or holding it in your hands, and exercising utilizing the resistance of the band. These classes incorporate various types of fast movements, which is what makes bungee workouts both fun and challenging.

Bungee fitness can feel like you’re flying and defying gravity, making your workouts come to life. It is a great form of cardio, muscle building, and fat burning. The classes also require balance, coordination, and working your core, making bungee fitness a full-body workout. This type of exercise is considered low impact, so risk of injury is minimal. The workouts involve a lot of low-intensity exercises condensed together. Instructors will normally have students do various movements like jumping, dancing, sprinting, Pilates, and even yoga while hanging from the bungee cords. Bungee courses can improve flexibility and mobility, making it easier to move your body around the more you do it.

Bungee fitness programs are popping up around the country in select dance and fitness studios. You can find them in places like Om Factory Fitness in New York,  Sky Arts Studio in Miami, and in most cities around the US. And if you don’t have any experience with bungee workouts, you can still take part in the fun with a beginner’s course.

Take Home Message

There you have it, four creative workouts for anyone who needs something new in their routine. Any of these classes or programs will fill your day with something special and motivate you to work hard towards your goals. Try one today and get that extra kick in your step on your way to working out.