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Best Alternative Forms of Fitness

Organizing and re-organizing the weights at your local 24-Hour Fitness isn’t the only way to get fit and tone up your bod. While pumping iron is a suitable (and effective) workout method, there are a number of alternative forms of fitness that aren’t nearly as tedious yet still allow the body to work up a sweat – and you might even be able to have a little fun while doing them. 

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You don’t even have to consider yourself athletic or outdoorsy to try your hand at alternative means of staying active, either. As long as you have the right activity-specific gear (and an adventurous mindset), anyone’s capable of backpacking over the weekend, visiting their local indoor climbing center or even jumping into the pool to swim a few laps.

Here are the best alternative forms of fitness, capable of letting you break your gym-going routine and add some much-needed variety to your workouts. 

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There are a few different methods for using boxing as a fitness alternative. The first is to simply take actual boxing classes at a local gym. Boxing exercises can burn calories dramatically, while also helping you learn a martial art. Even the amount of time you spend moving around while sparring is a good way to break a sweat and keep active. 

There are also group fitness-type boxing classes that use boxing as a foundation. These are often circuit training-style classes that utilize resistance training, cardio fitness and skill work. Some studios even offer kickboxing-infused classes, as well. 

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High intensity interval training (or HIIT) is one of the most tiresome workouts you can do – and as you can imagine, it gets real results. HIIT is centered around a grueling cardio schedule that often consists of push-ups, lunges, plyometrics and, everyone’s favorite, burpees. Each interval tends to be short but the idea is to keep the intensity as high as possible to get the best return. 

HIIT is an especially attractive fitness option because it can be done almost anywhere – at home, at the gym, at the office, etc. Full workouts can take anywhere from just 15 to 30 minutes, depending on how many exercises you intend on doing. Be prepared to get sweaty, the “high intensity” in its name is no gimmick. 

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Spending time at an indoor climbing center is a great way to build upper body strength and work on your cardio, even if you’re just starting out. It’s an activity that anyone could pick up, but it offers plenty of room to improve and master. Most (if not all) climbing venues offer harnesses and climbing ropes for people to use, while some even rent climbing shoes to those who need them. 

The advantages of indoor rock climbing are many. There are the physical benefits listed above, as well as the opportunity to improve flexibility and burn calories – all while scaling a strategically designed wall. It certainly beats pounding the track of a treadmill. 

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Hot yoga may not seem like a strenuous workout, but its benefits are geared more towards becoming more flexible, improving balance and building lean strength, rather than getting swole. The fact that it’s done in a room with the heat blasted to more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit means you’ll be burning hundreds of calories in sweat alone. 

Yoga is also an excellent exercise for relieving stress. Sure, the heat may not be the most comfortable thing to sit in for an hour and a half, but the general calmness of yoga is incredibly soothing by nature. It’s important to make sure you’re healthy enough for hot yoga, however. Anyone with a history of cardiovascular disease or asthma should be cautious before taking a class. 

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Utilizing hiking or backpacking as a form of alternative fitness is one of the most enjoyable and pleasing experiences you could have. Not only do both activities often require traversing several miles of backcountry trails but, when it comes to backpacking, you’ll also be hauling a pack weighing upwards of 20 or 30 pounds. 

Both hiking and backpacking offer a good opportunity to burn some calories while also often exposing yourself to areas you wouldn’t typically encounter. These can be done almost anywhere, too. Even a dense metropolis like New York City can be suitable for hikers – as long as you get creative with finding trails. A website like AllTrails is a great reference for finding trails across any state in the U.S. Now you don’t have any excuses. 

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Taking a spin class may be the most popular alternative to lifting weights at the gym, which is likely why brands such as Peloton and NordicTrack have seen a massive spike in popularity with their at-home bikes. The workout isn’t just a fad, either – spin classes can be an excellent source of cardio and burned calories. 

Most classes don’t simply consist of jumping on a bike and pedaling until your legs get tired. Instead, many are led by an instructor who guides the class through a series of high- and low-intensity periods of pedaling. Classes are often accompanied by upbeat music to add even more motivation and can be anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. 

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Swimming might be the most underrated exercise on this list. With a proper swim workout, you’re able to burn calories, increase endurance, build muscle and improve your lung function. All just by hopping in a chlorinated pool of water and swimming a few laps – perhaps a couple more than a “few” would actually be necessary.

Swimming workouts can consist of everything from logging an indefinite number of laps of your stroke of choice to creating more structured plans with a time or distance limit. Whatever your preference, swimming is capable of achieving results you won’t be able to accomplish in the weight room. If the thought of cardio makes you wince, give swimming a try – it’s much more relaxing than running and it is a great year-round exercise, no matter where you live. 

It’s easy to only associate being fit with lifting weights in a gym, but the reality is fitness can be achieved across a variety of activities. The alternatives listed above should provide a solid starting point for anyone looking to switch up their workout routine and try something new. 

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Rick Stella, Khareem Sudlow