If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to get fit, but if you don’t really want to head to a gym, fear not. You can get fit in multiple ways without having to join others working out in a communal space.
Gyms aren’t for everyone, and there’s no harm in not wanting to exercise in one. There are countless other options for you to choose from to help you meet your exercise. The WHO suggests that people engage in at least 150 minutes of activity that boosts their heart rates, leaves them slightly out of breath, and makes them break out into a sweat. This doesn’t need to be all at once, and you can break it down into more manageable chunks until you improve your fitness or simply fit it in around your daily activities. Fitness is supposed to complement your life, not complicate it.
With this in mind, what can you do to improve your fitness if a gym just isn’t for you?
Home Gym
Let’s start with the obvious. If you want gym equipment without the gym atmosphere or other people, you can build a home gym if you have a spare room or garage, for example. You can purchase the gym equipment you would like to use, from a spin bike to a weight rack, treadmill, free weights, benches or anything else that will help you hit your goals.
Walk
Walking is one of the most underrated exercises there is. Sure, we walk on a daily basis, but how often do you hit the pavement and just walk without a goal or destination in mind, just for the enjoyment of it? Walking can be not only a great low-impact exercise that will improve your physical health but also a mental health boost. Getting outside for a walk, even a 10-minute walk, can boost your mood and, paired with the vitamin D you get from the sunlight, can be highly beneficial to your health. If you can’t get outside to walk, then you can find various walking exercises online to start with.
Swimming
Swimming is an excellent full-body exercise that can boost your heart health, increase stamina and give you an effective workout without lifting weights. Swimming is a great cardiovascular exercise that can burn fat, promote muscle growth, improve your mood, and help you get your blood pumping. Much like any other exercise, swimming isn’t for everyone, but if a dip in the pool is enticing, then why not dive in and add swimming to your life?
Take A Class or Two!
If you like the more social aspect of exercising and you want the added motivation of others to push through your barriers and have some fun, finding a workout or dance class can be exactly what you are looking for.
The best part is there are hundreds of classes available for you to try to improve your fitness. From the standard aerobic classes, step and Zumba to the more adventurous Stepperton, pole dancing or bungee fitness classes. You can take yoga or pilates classes, or you can choose to take up a dance class such as tap or ballet; it’s never too late to learn!
Whatever you choose needs to be something you enjoy as this will help you build consistency and make working out a habit that you can do all the time, as this will help make it a part of your life.

What do you think?