Stop Driving to Work Every Day
Living in a city gives you endless opportunities to stay active and get fit, even without a gym membership. Every park and sidewalk lets you get moving, burn calories, and shape your body. You just need to recognize the opportunities and make a few choices. Here are 20 ways to stay active in the city.
1. Walk Everywhere
This one might sound simple, but too many people refuse to walk as much as their day allows. Choose to walk instead of using public transportation or driving whenever possible. Even walking a few extra blocks a day can make a difference to your health.
2. Cycling to Commute
Cycling is an eco-friendly and fast way to get to work or around the city. Many urban areas in major cities have bike lanes and rental programs, so take advantage.
3. Join a City Sports League
Joining a city soccer or dodgeball team ensures that you get an intense workout at least once a week. These leagues are great for fitness and to meet new people. The games are usually pretty casual and fun.
4. Explore City Parks
Most cities have ample green spaces where you can stay active during the warmer months. Visit your local park to walk, jog, or rollerblade. You can also use a city park for yoga, Frisbee, or calisthenics.
5. Ditch the Elevator
Choosing to walk the stairs whenever possible instead of taking the elevator or escalator will help you stay active year-round. This underrated workout lets you leverage public spaces to stay in shape.
6. Take a Fitness Class
Living in a city gives you access to tons of fitness classes. You can do yoga, Pilates, spin, dance, or martial arts once a week. Most gyms have beginner options if you want to start slow and work your way up.
7. Urban Hiking
You don't need a forest for a day of hiking, as cities let you tackle long walking routes. Pick fun neighborhoods, hilly areas, or an urban trail to get the most out of your workout. Not only will you burn calories, but you can also enjoy your city's architecture and street culture.
8. Dance Classes
Every city offers fun, vibrant dance classes that range in skill level. You can enjoy a salsa class, or sign up to learn tango or ballroom. Dance is a great workout but also a creative outlet. You will improve your stamina and coordination while you dance up a sweat.
9. Rock Climbing Gyms
Indoor climbing gyms have been growing in popularity across cities for some time. They offer a vigorous and fun workout with just enough challenges to keep you engaged.
10. Jogging Along Waterfronts
Cities with waterfronts often offer trails that follow the lake or river. This activity also provides a scenic escape from the hustle and bustle of the city while you get a strong cardiovascular workout.
11. Take a Martial Arts Class
Martial arts studios are common in cities, and offer classes for karate, taekwondo, jiu-jitsu, and kickboxing. You'll get an intense workout and build your self-defense skills, strength, and discipline.
12. Volunteer for Active Projects
Every city offers volunteer opportunities, many of which involve physical activity. While any act of volunteerism is noble, you can opt for something like community gardening, park clean-ups, or charity races to give back and get into shape.
13. Rollerblading or Skateboarding
City sidewalks, boardwalks, and parks are great places to rollerblade or skateboard to get into shape. These activities offer a strong workout for your legs, balance, and core muscles. Furthermore, many urban areas feature skateparks, so you can practice in a safe environment.
14. Practice Outdoor Yoga
You can find outdoor yoga classes in parks or somewhere along the waterfront. Participating in outdoor yoga connects you with nature while you shape your body.
15. Commuter-Friendly Fitness
One novel idea is to incorporate fitness into your commute. All you have to do is get off the bus a few stops early and walk the rest of the way. You can also keep resistance bands in your bag to sneak in some physical activity every day.
16. Explore on Foot
Add some sightseeing to your city life to stay active. You can explore museums, galleries, or historic districts. Anywhere that requires a lot of walking will do the trick, and you'll get to immerse yourself in arts and culture.
17. Join a Walking or Running Club
Running and walking clubs are popular ways to stay active in most U.S. cities. They can range from casual strolls to marathon training, but all are proven ways to keep you accountable. You'll also meet like-minded people, and these clubs will organize your routes, so all you have to do is stretch and go.
18. Active Date Nights
There is no shortage of options for active dates. You can visit a trampoline park or do a bit of axe-throwing. Choosing a date night or group hangout that's more active than sitting at a bar will help you burn calories while enjoying the company of another person.
19. Seasonal City Activities
Take advantage of your city's seasonal activity offerings. You can ice skate outdoors, swim in a rooftop pool, or go for a fall architecture walking tour through your favorite neighborhood.
20. Take the Long Route
The easiest way for city dwellers to stay active is to intentionally take the longer route whenever one presents itself. Try parking far from your destination to force yourself to walk, or take a scenic detour on your way home from work. Any of these options will help you stay more active.
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