If You Hate the Gym, Try This
If the thought of lifting heavy weights under fluorescent lights or running endlessly on a treadmill makes you want to hide under a blanket — you’re not alone. For a lot of people, the traditional “gym workout” just doesn’t fit.
The good news? Movement can look like so many different things. If it gets you moving, makes you feel good, and fits your life, it counts. Here are five options that don’t require a gym membership, a “perfect” outfit, or any tolerance for protein powder jokes.
1. Dance — Anywhere, Anytime
Whether it’s a salsa class, a community Zumba group, or a solo dance party in your kitchen, dancing is pure joyful movement. It gets your heart rate up, boosts coordination, and floods your brain with feel-good chemicals — no treadmill required. I like to make playlists of music I love that makes me want to get up and DANCE.
2. Walking Adventures
Walking is one of the most underrated forms of movement. You can turn it into an adventure: explore a new neighborhood, wander a local park, or follow a self-guided historical tour. No need to measure or time it - just go for a walk for the enjoyment of being outdoors. Pair it with an audiobook or your favorite playlist, and it becomes “me time” on the move.
3. Aerial or Restorative Yoga
You don’t need to twist yourself into a pretzel to get the benefits. Gentle or restorative yoga focuses on stretching, breath, and body awareness, while aerial yoga adds a playful, hammock-like element that can feel more like play than a workout.
4. Pick-Up or Social Sports
Join a community softball league, a casual pickleball group, or even a weekend frisbee game at the park. Social movement adds connection to the physical benefits — and sometimes laughing with friends is the best cardio there is.
5. Creative Movement
Gardening, photography walks, cleaning to music, or even building something can all get you moving without feeling like “exercise.” The bonus: you see (and enjoy) the results of your effort right away.
The Takeaway:
The “best” kind of movement is the one you’ll actually do — and the one that makes you feel good in your body. If you’re smiling while you’re doing it, you’re doing it right.
This week’s invitation: Pick one thing from this list and try it — no pressure, no stopwatch, just curiosity. Then notice how you feel afterward.
