What do you do for exercise that's fun? I thought about this today when I went to a Jazzercise class again for the first time in years. I like the dancey approach and finding a way to do a sexy Grapevine--anything to feel like a Rockette! So here's my list, in on particular order (okay, it's practically all dancing):
Jazzercise (worth shopping around for a fabulous instructor. They're generally all pretty good, but the great ones make the class just fly by!)
Scottish Country Dance (vigorous but you do get lots of breaks between action so it's not hugely aerobic. Still, it's given me great calves.)
Contra dance (American folk dance that involves walking to the music but leaves you breathless. It's very flirtatious, which is also fun for me)
Bicycle riding (when my hormones are all squared away and the seat feels comfy again)
My thought is that if we keep trying new things I'll find more things that I'm dying to do instead of things I force myself to do. I still have climbing up and down stairs for those snowy winter's mornings, but I like having dancing in my life. I'd dance on hot coals if I had to. I'm working up the nerve to rent some skates and try rollerblading.
So what do you do that's FUN?
Denise
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Hi Denise,
Those dances all sound like lots of fun, as does the Jazzercise.
I would love to take ballroom dancing lessons, although I am not sure how much of a workout that type would be. But I like to watch it and I love the beautiful costumes.
I have done a bit of country line dancing in my time, which is alot of fun as well. Not overly aerobic, but you can work up a bit of a sweat with it.
This is a great thread, I will be interested to see the different interests everyone has!
M.
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This is great as we can all maybe get an idea for something weve never considered!
My first love is aerobic kickbox, then Cardio ball, country swing dancing, aerobic hi lo class, hiking, biking, and softball.
Fitbug
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Okay, I'll bite. How is country swing dancing different from plain vanilla swing dancing? Is it more like contra dancing, or completely different? I can always use another dance hobby.
Denise
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Well I may be living in the dark ages but I'm not sure what plain vanilla swing is. Country swing is jitterbug to country music.
Fitbug
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Sorry, obviously I was being too cute for clarity. By plain vanilla swing, I meant "swing without the word country in front of it". So it's the same stuff I'm learning on Tuesday nights only with different music. Actually our swing dance teacher (we're just starting so we're taking lessons) has been known to use country music.
Now, is Cardio ball that new thing with the medicine balls?
Denise
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Ahhhh! My favorite subject!
Oh good Jody! For a sec there you had me thinking you were doing the "four count" swing that we call around here - Country Swing (aka Yank and Jerk).
It sounds alot like the East Coast Swing, I love to do to that also, boy that'll get your heart rate up! My absolute favorite is West Coast Swing! It's done is a slot, where the lady runs the slot and the man steps in and out of it, there all different types of moves and patterns people do. Sounds confusing but way, way fun! Its danced to anything from Slow Blues to disco type beats and everything in between!
Denise, is the Vanilla Swing you're referring to anything like the Lindy Hop? The kind of dance that got so popular a couple of years ago.
Maria, absolutely you'd get a workout with Ballroom dancing. The ones you see on TV make it look soooooo easy, don't they? It's actually a very good workout for your muscles, especially the leg muscles but also it can do wonders for posture.
Dance away gals!
Vicki
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Cardio Ball is done with the Swiss ball. 55 or 65 cm's around.
You can bounce on it, bounce it, roll on it, lift it, squeeze it, balance on it,,, it is endless what you can do with it!
I'd love to try that west coast swing Vicky. There really isn' tmuch dancind here in Utah so mabe I'll have to make a special trip to Colo to see you and Twy and you can take me!
DANCING what fantastic aerobic exercise!
Fitbug
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Oh, this happens to me all the time. I use a phrase that I made up (plain vanilla swing, meaning "not country swing but what they call around here just 'swing'") and then people think it's real terminology. !It's a phrase I made up! Ignore it. Go on with your life.
My sweetie-boo and I are taking a class described simply as "swing". We do triple-swing, single swing, or double swing, which is all basically the same step (either 123, 123, rock step; slow, slow, rock step; or 1-2, 1-2, rock step). It is kind of danced in a slot, which might make it West Coast swing. But I don't know. We just do whatever Bill-the-dance-teacher says. Basically the man does most of the work and decision-making (very different from teh rest of our marriage) and the woman looks like she meant that to happen.
One of my friends is taking Lindy Hop but I haven't danced with him to see what that is and how it's different. I'll have to try it.
What's East Coast Swing like?
BEGINNING ballroom isn't very aerobic. You take very small steps so as not to get out of control. But we're looking forward to getting better. I really like the rhumba. Competitive ballroom dancers really burn up the floor, but they really look like they're PRETENDING to have fun.
Tonight I have a Scottish Country Dance demonstration. I find public demos fun, but almost sad in a way when we do them for Scots. Unlike Highland, it's meant to be something you DO, not something you WATCH. I want to shout, "It's your culture! I'm not even Scottish! Get your butt up here and have some fun!" Guess I'd better iron my costume, though. Toodles!
Denise
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I hate to exercise just to exercise. I feel like a rat running on a wheel. Having fun that happens to be exercise is wonderful - swimming (especially in lakes/rivers/oceans), dancing (contra *is* fun!), and of course riding. If anyone thinks all you do is "sit there" to ride a horse, the typical cure for that among horse owners is to take you for a 3-4 hour trail ride. That'll fix you. Work that happens to be exercise is great too - unloading a truckload of gravel, or shoveling, wheelbarrowing, and spreading compost will work up a good sweat. Turning soil in garden beds beats lifting weights, and pushing a manual rotary lawnmower is more satisfying than walking on a treadmill. I should start a fitness farm! "Welcome to Work Your Butt Off Farm, here's your shovel."
p.s. Denise - I hear "plain vanilla whatever" all the time. Maybe it's a regional expression.
Linda
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Linda,
Hooray! I'm not nuts! You know what 'plain vanilla' means.
I have a few expressions that NOBODY seems to know and I was afraid this was one of them. "Drinking warm drinks" is pretty obscure--it's used to refer to a group of people who argue all the time. They end up drinking warm drinks because they can't agree on the recipe for ice.
Denise
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Denise,
No, its just when talking about swing dancing, there are so many different kinds called by all different kinds of name, you just never know.
The dance you're learning sounds like the East Coast Swing, at least that's what its called around here. It's a blast and you can learn some pretty fun moves too. If you ever get a chance to learn west coast do, its wonderful and the type that you never stop learning new stuff with.
Jody, anytime gal! You just say when and we'll make sure you get out to do some dancing!
Linda, I agree. I'll take working in my garden over exercise anyday of the week! Although I've got a ways to go before I'm gonna be able to haul any rocks.
{{hugs}} gals,
Vicki
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Vicki I am so happy to hear about another dancer. My husband and I do ballroom (can be very good exercise), east coast swing, west coast swing,two step and I line dance 2 nights a week without him. Dancing is great exercise and SO much fun. When I started line dancing I didnt even like country music. I needed something to reduce stress while taking care of my dad with alzheimers. I found line dancing to be the first thing I had done that was fun since I had had kids 15 yrs previously.
I had jogged and done exercise classes but they were always because I knew I needed the exercise to be healthy. Dancing I do because I love it! I cant get enough. My husband finally joined me after I line danced for 4 yrs. He had never danced in the 25 yrs of our marriage and has one leg!! He now loves it. We call it our couple therapy. There isnt many times you hold each other in a nonsexual way and laugh hesterically. It has really done wonders for our marriage.
This hysterectomy has really put a squash on my dancing. I am 4 1/2 wk post op and went dancing for the first time 4 days ago. I only did about 8-10 dances (every other one) and no turns and easy. I was really sore and swollen the next day. I had had a really long day before that with lots of driving(3 hrs) and shopping during the day. i am hoping that is why I was so sore. When did you get back to dancing?? Sorry this is so long!!
beth
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Hi Beth,
I can see why you were so sore after. Dancing, shopping and sitting in the car for that long just 4 1/2 weeks after surgery! Ouchy!
The first time I went out after surgery (I think it was about the same time) but I only did one very slow two step with no turns. I even left my dance shoes at home to resist temptation.
I had started chemo about a month after surgery so didn't get out all that much for quite a while after. I think I went out again at about 7 weeks and felt much better. Although one of my buddies forgot and did a lunge move that one support hand goes right on my belly. You should have seen his face when he realized what he did! It didn't really hurt so much as shock both of us.
I'm glad you and DH are able to enjoy it together. I always love seeing married couples out there. It is such a great stress reliever and there is such a wonderful connection between couples.
Be patient, you'll soon get back out there. Take it slow and easy and you'll find you won't be as sore after. Do be careful on the turns for a while though as they can pull muscles that aren't quite ready.
Happy
Vicki
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All that dancing sounds like a lot of fun! I do bellydancing. It's a hoot. I took it up two years ago at the age of 43 and even though I'm not really very good, it is a lot of fun and our instructor has us out performing in public at old folks homes and stuff. It is a very "girly" thing to do and the costumes are fabulous. They are very expensive to buy but with a little bit of creativity and some sequins, it's amazing what you can make for yourself. It's a way of wearing shiny baubles, chain belts, wigs, false eyelashes, sequins, bells, diaphanous outfits with veils (think dress up for grownups) out in public and not being laughed at.
patti
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I go to Jazzercise at least five times a week and I love it. You will get addicted to it the more the do it. I was going before my hysterectomy and went back after six weeks. I know I would have felt a lot worse if I hadn't have gone back.
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