When the clock strikes midnight on January 1st, everyone gets a fresh start, no matter what kind of year you’ve had. This means there’s no better time to give your workout routine an upgrade. You might be surprised at how much better you feel just by adding some variety to your current regimen.
Read on for four new exercise ideas to try in the New Year.
Blow Off Some Steam with Boxing
Let’s face it: this year has been a bit rough. If you’re looking forward to putting 2020 behind you as much as we are, then you’re probably harboring some pent-up stress and frustration. But what does your mental health have to do with exercise?
When it comes to providing a great workout and giving you an outlet to relieve negative emotions, boxing packs a serious punch (no pun intended).
Boxing gyms are becoming increasingly popular, and many standard gyms are beginning to offer group boxing classes as well. You can even try boxing at home if you want to torch calories from your living room.
Make Running More Interesting
If you think there’s nothing fresh or exciting about running, think again.
No matter how many miles you’ve already logged, there are still ways to freshen up your running routine. Consider switching up your location, trying out your local track, or giving cross-country running a try.
Changing up your route will stave off boredom, but you can go the extra mile (some pun intended) by incorporating variety and strengthening different muscle groups (while you let others recover). For example, doing workouts on a soft track can end up being amazing gifts for trail runners since it provides your quads and ankles with a much-needed break.
Dance the Night (and Year!) Away
As difficult as the past year has been, we’re optimistic that next year is going to be the best year yet. And that’s something to dance about!
If you’ve ever danced the night away, you already know what a great workout it can be. Plus, it’s fun enough that you won’t even realize you’re doing something amazing for your body. Who doesn’t want that?
Try incorporating dancing into your fitness routine with:
- Zumba – This dance-based group fitness program features upbeat music that showcases Latin pop songs. It’s high-energy but low-intensity, so it’s great for people of all fitness levels.
- Jazzercise – This one’s a little old school, but it’s a classic for a reason. Jazzercise combines resistance and strength training with music for a fun yet effective workout.
- Barre – Okay, barre class isn’t necessarily dancing, but its moves are rooted in techniques from classical ballet. It’s an intense workout that targets and tones your muscles.
Embrace Being at Home
These days, most people are spending more time than ever at home. Whether your gym is closed or you feel safer staying put, there are still a variety of ways to keep your workouts interesting.
Most at-home workouts are designed to be done without much equipment, meaning you can get started right away. Take a look at these workouts you can do from the comfort of your living room with just a mat:
- An ab routine, including sit-ups, crunches, and planks
- A live-streamed fitness class, like yoga
- A quick cardio circuit, with jumping jacks, high-knees, and burpees (if you’re brave)
- Some quad and glute strengthening with wall squats, lunges, bridges, and more
If you want to kick your home workouts into high gear, you can always buy a basic set of weights, resistance bands, or even a treadmill.
New Year, New Workouts, New You
Whether you incorporate one or all of these exercises into your new and improved fitness routine, you’re already a few steps ahead of the rest just by thinking about it. In fact, don’t wait until the ball drops—you can try these new workout ideas right now!
