Yippee! It's not snowing and there aren't salt rings on the bottoms of my yoga pants every day!
Spring is the perfect time to join a team and take up a new sport! Not all sports provide a great workout... you won't stay fit bowling or riding in a golf cart all summer. You will, however, have better access to beer. It's all about tradeoffs, people.
So what are some of the best outdoor sports to help you stay lean, fit and strong?
1. Rowing. Although seated, rowers burn tons of calories with the number of strokes and the amount of force they must exert against the water. Keeping up with a team can definitely motivate you to work harder than you would on the rowing ergometer at the gym, for example. Since most of us struggle with poor posture, the emphasis of rowing on the back & shoulders makes it a perfect sport to improve your fitness in a meaningful way. Check out your local rowing club or find a dragon boat team.
2. Tennis. Tennis players have to be quick on their feet, so staying fast and light is important. Tennis involves quick footwork to challenge your coordination and plenty of upper body and core work, thanks to the racquet. You will get plenty of cardiovascular exercise during a fast-paced tennis match, but one caveat here: until your game improves, you'll probably spend more time chasing the ball (or waiting for the ball if your partner is a newbie) than hitting it.
3. Soccer. Of all the team sports, soccer offers one of the best cardiovascular workouts since you will spend most of the game running. Even newbies can jump right in and get a great workout! The kicking and dribbling of soccer offers a challenge for the core and legs, plus builds coordination to improve your performance in virtually any activity. Most towns & cities offer co-ed as well as men's and women's leagues.
4. Swimming. So it's not always a team sport, but just picture a swimmer's body and you can see what a good workout the water provides. Swimming is one of the most well-rounded and safest workouts. The water's resistance strengthens the legs, hips, core, back, chest & shoulders. Despite the refreshing setting, swimming provides a decent cardiovascular workout and burns plenty of calories, whether you're just working on your stroke or a seasoned swimmer. Community centres and local pools offer time for swimming lengths.
5. Volleyball. Lots of jumping and quick changes of direction build power and coordination, and using both the legs and the arms simultaneously makes volleyball one killer core workout. Aside from swimming, this is the only sport whose players are fit enough to play in bikinis! The uneven sand terrain makes beach volleyball even more challenging, and provides a soft landing surface to help prevent injury. Most cities offer men's and women's leagues; watch for signage around beach areas.
Of course, I've had to leave a ton of amazing sports off of this list to narrow it down to my favourite 5...
What is your favourite outdoor sport to keep your fitness routine fresh and fun?
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