Physical fitness and health is an important topic for all ages and can be commonly found amongst students. After years of doing the same set of running, pull ups, sit ups and flexibility tests, it is about time that the student body is presented with more engaging alternatives. So if the current exercise routines are not interesting enough, instead of looking for something that will be tiring, search for a hobby or event that can be enjoyed.

Yoga

This workout is comprised of different body poses and is geared towards relaxing one’s state of mind as well as improving physique.

“There are many benefits to [yoga],” physical education teacher Kelly O’Bryan said. “My flexibility has improved, I have less chance of injuries, and it detoxes my body from the inside out.”

All someone needs is a mat, athletic clothes and the determination to hold each pose for its allotted time period. It improves core muscles and teaches participants good breathing techniques for everyday life.

“I started yoga because I had back issues all my life, and as I was getting older I could feel it getting worse,” O’Bryan said. “I would run, walk, stand for long periods of time and it would just ache all the time. I decided to try yoga to increase my flexibility and to help with the tightness and stiffness that I felt on a daily basis. Yoga has helped me out tremendously.”

Rollerblading

A simple skill that people can try out is learning how to rollerblade, which is easily done from the comforts of home during periods of free time.

“I don’t like running and it hurts my knees, [rollerblading] is easier on the knees and it’s just more fun because I get to go faster and do tricks,” senior Scott Hall said.

Rollerblading is flexible and can easily be adjusted to fit in a teenagers busy schedule. The only equipment needed would be a pair of skates, helmet and some shin or knee pads.

“I love rollerblading and have been skating since I was three, anyone can do it,” Hall said. “I like it more than ice skating because you can do it anywhere, all you have to do is step outside. It’s a great exercise and more fun than just running, but you get just as good of a workout. It just takes practice.”

Hiking

Instead of walking on a treadmill for hours on end, going outside to hike through nature in places such as Busch Wildlife and Fort Zumwalt Park are more adventurous workout choices.

“There’s so many different places you can go, trails in the woods, there’s trails that are a lot of climbing, there’s things such as the Grand Canyon,” psychology teacher Wendy Koch said. “There’s just so much out there to see and you can go wherever you want.”
With so much to see, teens are less likely to get tired as easily as they normally do, allowing them to hike for much longer.

“Not everybody is sports oriented, not everybody is necessarily athletically inclined,” Koch said. “Anybody can go hiking, anybody can go biking and it doesn’t require any sort of skill level like a sport does.”

Even simple games such as Just Dance on Wii or tag are perfect alternatives, since they promote having fun. Teens will be more likely to want to improve their physical fitness if they generally enjoy their workout activity. This in turn reaps multitudes of benefits that come with exercising on a consistent basis.

“[Exercise] lowers stress hormones, increases serotonin and speeds up your metabolism,” Hall said, “It keeps you more happy and more awake.”
When in doubt find an activity that is generally fun to participate in, as it will be a great alternative for those wanting to enjoy themselves while increasing their fitness levels.