Yahoo Finance 5 Non-Sport Hobbies That Can Keep You Fit and How Much They Cost
Are you the sort of person who always tried to feign a stomach ache whenever it was time for a PE lesson? Do you cringe every time your yearly IPPT rolls around because you know you are going to die during the 2.4 km run?
Then you might be what is known as an unsporty person. And leading a sedentary lifestyle could lead to an increased risk of diabetes and an expanding waistline, amongst other unpleasant things.
The good news is that keeping fit doesn’t mean having to pay through your teeth for a costly gym membership and drag yourself kicking and screaming to the treadmill.
Here are five hobbies that aren’t sports, but that can help you get some exercise nonetheless—and how much it costs to participate in them.
Juggling
You might not be a clown, but you might want to learn to juggle nonetheless. That’s because constantly tossing, catching, dropping and picking up balls, rings and clubs will have you breaking a sweat in no time, especially in the beginning stages when you’re still learning, and also later on when you try to master new skills.
Cost: A set of three good juggling balls can be had for less than $20 at this local online shop. If you are really broke, you can use rolled up pairs of socks instead.
Slacklining
Another of the circus arts that gives you a hell of a workout is slacklining, which involves balancing on and moving across a line that’s suspended between two points, similar to a tightrope. Slacklining requires you to work on your balance and concentration, and is surprisingly strneuous.
The only equipment you need is the slackline itself. Then you just need to find two trees/posts at a suitable distance from each other and set up your slackline. Another bonus is that it makes a good group activity and gives you a nice excuse to organise a picnic or a beach outing.
Cost: Slacklines retail locally for about $140 to $185 at Elephant Slackline, but this is a very good brand. If you are on a budget, you can buy cheaper ones on overseas websites at half the price.
Geocaching
Did you like going on treasure hunts when you were a kid? Geocaching is pretty much the same thing, except that you’re hunting for caches (containers ranging from the size of a small thumbdrive to boxes) hidden by other players. When you find the caches, you can sign the logbook and take or leave goodies.
Geocachers wander all over Singapore in search of caches with the help of GPS coordinates and clues. Some of the trickier ones will require you to visit several locations and solve a series of puzzles. Since nobody is playing Pokemon Go anymore, this is the next best way to encourage yourself to explore Singapore.
Cost: It’s free. Just sign up for an account on the Geocaching website and search for caches in your area. If you don’t want to spend money on public transport, you can search for caches within walking distance of home.
Playing drums
A drum kit basically turns into a piece of gym equipment when you’re playing a set. In fact, depending on your weight, you might be able to burn over 250 calories per hour, and top-level drummers need very good endurance.
Cost: Brand new electric or acoustic drum kits typically cost at least $500. You might want to consider an electric set just so you can practise without your neighbours coming round with a baseball bat. On a budget? Get a second hand set on Carousell. You will then have to decide whether you wish to hire a teacher or self-learn using free online resources.
Social dancing
The trouble with dance classes like Kpop dance or, shudder, zumba, is that they feel too much like aerobics, which died out for a reason.
But social dancing does not feel at all like exercise because half the time you’re trying not to step on your partner’s feet, and also because, if you pick dances with a party element like salsa or bachata, you’ll eventually spend time dancing at bars and clubs.
Pick a style according to the type of music you like best. If you’ve caught yourself humming Despacito more than once, you might enjoy dancing to the salsa remix. If you’re more into ragtime or jazz, go for swing dance styles like lindy hop. And if you’re the kind of person who went to debutante balls as a teenager, pick ballroom dancing.
Cost: Weekly lessons at a dance studio should cost about $60 to $120 a month. As you get better you might want to invest in a pair of dance shoes. There are also find free salsa and latin dancing workshops on Facebook.
Do you have a hobby that keeps you fit but that isn’t a sport? Share it with us in the comments!
The post 5 Non-Sport Hobbies That Can Keep You Fit and How Much They Cost appeared first on the MoneySmart blog.
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