I don’t know about you, but I absolutely hate the gym. Not only do I hate the gym, I also hate gym workouts at home. Some people say that after a while of consistently getting up and working out, you’ll get used to it and want to continue. That never happened for me.
Others say that seeing results made them want to work out even harder, but seeing results has always made me feel like I deserve the six-piece chicken wing special from Timmy Chans and a “rest day” which inevitably turns into a “rest week”.
I’m not particularly interested in a home-grown, made-in-the-gym BBL, neither am I worried about abs carved by our Lord-and-Savior himself. I just want to be fit enough to run a decent length of time without going into cardiac arrest, and be confidant in my clothes. Most importantly, I want to have fun.
That’s right, I’m writing this article for the small fraction of rational people who do not consider burpees and suicides fun. I’m here to advocate for a better, less grueling workout experience for all! And who knows, maybe after mastering these alternatives, you’ll actually be encouraged to hit the gym (I know I won’t, but there’s still hope for you).
So let’s get into these way more fun and less insane alternatives to the gym and traditional workouts (I cannot promise that you will not be sore, but you will be more confidant).
YouTube Yoga
“But Nevaeh, I’m not flexible, I’m clumsy, I haven’t stretched in years…”, then this is exactly where you need to start. There are online yoga classes for yogis of all experience levels. Looking to focus on your core? There’s a YouTube video for that. Need a good daily stretch to practice? There’s a video for that too. There’s even yoga for those of us who want a more intense experience.
Afrocentric Dance Classes
I think I’ve shared multiple times that I’m a horrible dancer. If there’s one thing you can take away from Bayou Beat News, it’s that Nevaeh is synonymous with bad dancing. But I can tell you that I’ve never had more fun exercising than when I took an Afro-Brazilian Samba class.It had just the right amount of intensity, a welcoming atmosphere, and really kept me in the physical moment instead of letting my mind wander.I recommend taking any Afrocentric based class, whether that’s Samba, West African dances, or Hip Hop classes. Check out these dance studios located around H-Town.
Hiking in the Great Outdoors
How often do you get to work out while admiring gorgeous scenery? Probably not much considering you’re either staring at some hairy, sweaty gym-rat hogging the gym equipment, or yelling at your children to give you privacy as you struggle to complete 10 push-ups. The best part is, you don’t have to go hiking alone! All over the nation, Black hiking and nature groups are sprouting up to build a sense of community in the world of outdoor activities.