HOW ACTIVITIES FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD CAN HELP YOU GET IN SHAPE
Story by Jacquie Clancy
Illustration by Madison van Rijn
Remember those recesses you spent playing hopscotch and double dutch? When you were jumping rope with your friends in the school yard, you probably never thought about the benefits that you were reaping from these innocent activities, but there are plenty.
There are many activities that we all participated in as kids that can turn into excellent exercises for us as adults. Jumping rope is one of the activities you can add to your workout regime to give yourself a little throw back to your childhood days and also improve your cardiovascular health. Teri Cusimano, a certified group fitness instructor at a chain of Toronto-based fitness studios explains that “Jump rope is being incorporated in boot camps and certain exercise classes. It is a great way to increase your heart rate and challenge your cardio level.”
Jumping rope isn’t just a way to find your inner child; it’s a great way to find a bit of a switch up to your regular cardio routine. Skip the treadmill and try jumping rope for 30 seconds as many times as you can, resting for 10 seconds and then repeating the circuit five to ten times. “It is definitely [an] option which I believe is an effective form of cardio,” says Cusimano.
Another option is breaking out that old hula hoop from your elementary school gym classes. It takes a bit of practice to get the hang of, but once you do hula-hooping is not only a great cardio workout but an excellent way to work your core. You can also find hula hooping classes at some gyms or separate studios like Well Rounded Hoops in Toronto. They offer a variety of classes for different levels from Beginner to Beyond, and it’s a great social environment to meet new people and try something different.
Many of the childhood activities we can now look to for workout motivation are associated with a team environment. Try joining an adult soccer league or even a badminton team to put yourself in a place to meet new friends (or encourage your current buddies to join with you) and stay active. “[Group exercise] is an extremely motivating environment,” says Cusimano. ” [Participants] are able to approach the instructor for help and assistance with technique or advice.” If you’ve ever been to a group exercise class you probably know that you tend to give a little more to your workout when you’re surrounded by people rather than huffing and puffing by yourself on the elliptical or the Stairmaster.
Adding some variety to your workouts with jump rope, hula hooping, or even a new group exercise class you haven’t tried before will offer great benefits to your body. Being stuck in the same workout routine means your body gets used to the movements and you can eventually stop seeing results. By “shocking” your body with a blast from the past, you can be sure to get better results from your workouts, and stir up some memories of a time when you didn’t worry about the size of your thighs or a number on the scale.
We can all take a hint from our childhood selves, when being active was something we did purely for the fun of it. By trying something new and exciting, you can feel like a kid again…and look good doing it!
