Seven Workout Ideas That Won’t Drain Your Budget
It’s important to find new activities to incorporate into your exercise regimen
to keep your mind and body challenged, but some fitness trends can be
expensive.
To ease the strain on your wallet, here’s a list of seven free and
inexpensive workout ideas that won’t empty your savings account!
Indoor Rock Climbing
Rock climbing may seem like an odd Iron-man type of activity, but the demands it
places on the body end up providing a fantastic workout.
You’ll need strength,
flexibility, and a sense of humor as you scale specially built walls with total
heights of thirty feet or more.
Safety is vital and all climbers are required
to wear helmets, climbing shoes, and safety lines to prevent dangerous falls.
Indoor rock climbing can range from $15-$30 but it’s cheaper if you have your
own shoes.
Call ahead and ask if there are discounts available.
Rollerblading in the Local Park
This is an absolutely fantastic workout for the hips, thighs and buttocks,
especially if your park has inclines to challenge you.
The best part is that
it’s totally free!
The majority of public parks welcome rollerbladers but
checking before skating is a good idea.
Remember that you do skate at your own
risk, so exercise caution, especially around large groups or playgrounds with
small children.
Take a Trial Class
Nearly all studios and gyms will allow you to try out their facilities and
classes if you are interested in possibly joining.
Find a gym that offers a
class that interests you and explain you’d like to try it out.
Nine times out
of ten you will be allowed to take the class for free and get a stellar workout
at the same time.
Rent a Bike
Bicycle riding is an excellent way to shape up the legs but if the bike you
owned was in the sixth grade, you can still get in on the benefits by renting a
bike from a local shop and tooling around town.
In larger cities bike shops
frequently offer tours or suggestions for routes, so check out the local place
and rent a bike for a couple of hours.
This usually costs between $8-$20 and
there may be a small fee involved to release you from any responsibility for
accidents or damage.
Use Your Tax Dollars
You get sucked dry of tax dollars on almost every paycheck, so it’s time to
make those taxes work for you.
Check with your local Department of Recreation
and find out about county facilities that are available for public use.
Many
local governments set aside money to fund public tennis courts, swimming
centers, softball fields, and more.
As a citizen you have the right to use any
of these resources during business hours, though some may require calling ahead
to make a reservation.
Find nearby public tennis courts, grab a buddy, and go
play a couple of sets.
It cost you absolutely nothing – except those precious
tax dollars.
Get a One Day Pass
All gyms offer some kind of program where you can check out the facilities and
services, and frequently this program is in the form of a one-day pass.
Call a
gym that you’re interested in and let them know of your interest.
Ask if they
offer temporary passes for guests to evaluate the gym.
The answer is yes almost
every time.
Take your one-day pass and make the most of it – take a class, try
out new machines, and definitely use the sauna.
You get to check out the gym
and add some variety to your routine at the same time!
Do Some Good and Exercise At the Same Time
Call your local animal shelter and check to see if they use volunteer walkers
to help with the animals.
Many times these shelters are understaffed and need
the help of volunteers to give proper care to each animal.
By donating your
time to walk dogs, you give animals the chance to enjoy life outside the
shelter and fit in a workout at the same time.
Doing good for others and
exercising at the same time?
Getting fit has never felt this rewarding!
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