Rice Fitness Center Archive

Welcome to the Rice Fitness Center and Fit Tips Archive, Fitness Programs' home base for quick and informative reads on fitness information.

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Bringing Fun Into Exercise

There are very few people out there that absolutely love exercising and never get sick of doing it. For most of us, it's a painful chore and the word fun would never be uttered in the same breath as "exercise." Even those who try to regularly exercise get bored and fall off track. One of the keys to maintaining fitness is by keeping exercise fun. This can be done with conventional exercises, but you can try turning things you enjoy doing into exercise. Or, you can try something altogether new. Three ways you might try bringing the fun back into exercise is by jumping on a trampoline, dancing, or boxing.

Trampolines

Think you're going to be reliving your childhood? Well, think again! This can be an intense workout, which will increase your stamina, balance, aerobic ability and coordination. Adults can benefit from either full size trampolines, or the smaller ones known as "rebounders", designed to be used in the home.

Not only does the gentle activity of bouncing on a trampoline strengthen voluntary and involuntary muscles, it helps bones to become stronger and stay denser. The aerobic activity involved strengthens the heart, and provides you with many of the same benefits as jogging, with less stress on weight bearing joints. The "G" force, or effects of gravity in jogging, can actually increase the impact on your feet, to a value that is equivalent to four times your body weight. Using a trampoline can reduce that stress by 80%, providing a safe, effective way to exercise.

Dancing

Step into any hot night spot and you see a flurry of movement. Arms pumping, feet stomping, hips twisting, and of course, sweat dripping. These movers, groovers and shakers may not realize it, but the dancing that makes them feel good is also good for their bodies.

Dancing, experts say, burns calories, boosts energy, improves circulation and tones muscle--which leads to increased strength, endurance and flexibility. In fact, dancing can burn just as many calories as other, more "traditional" exercises, like brisk walking or downhill skiing. In addition, dancing relieves tension and stress, improves your mood and serves as an outlet for your creativity. Dancing also is convenient. Forget about expensive equipment or workout clothes. All you need is your body and the willingness to have fun. Have you always wanted to learn how to salsa or swing dance? Here's your chance to fulfill a dream and at the same time get in shape. Many local YMCAs, health clubs and even neighborhood gyms offer classes in different dance techniques.

Boxing

If you think it's just a sport for the rough and tough, you're wrong. Boxing is now one of the most popular fitness regimes out there and if it's a lean, toned, strong body you're after then this could the sport for you. Think Hilary Swank. Think Russell Crowe. Channel your inner Cinderella Man and see some amazing results.

Classes will teach you how to punch properly--it's about technique, not strength. There are three main moves to employ: hooks ("side" punches), jabs (straight forward punches) and up-cuts (punches going upwards). Don't think that boxing is an easy ride, though; it's seriously hard work. Boxing is a high intensity, full body workout that will keep you moving the whole time. When you're not throwing a punch, you're ducking and weaving. Weight loss, increased agility and coordination, muscle tone and greater fitness all result from boxing. Many people think that boxing is all about the arms but it is actually a cardio workout for the whole body. It's especially good for toning your bottom and quadriceps, which is perfect for women who want to lose weight around their bottom and thighs as part of an overall reduction program.