Get Your Play On: Weird, wacky ways to exercise

​​Getting enough exercise in the heat of the summer might seem like a chore, but there are tons of imaginative ways to get moving indoors and outdoors year-round. Get your play on and find fun ways to exercise with these weird and wacky ideas: 

​Put a Twist on It! Try out a funky yoga class
 
If the typical yoga scene isn’t your style, ditch the traditional Zen and try out a unique class.
 
Make a splash with paddleboard yoga for a cool and intense dose of physical activity. Instead of stretching out in a sweaty gym and staring yourself down in a mirror, you’ll be balancing on an inflatable mat in a pool or a lake. It truly challenges your balance, so you have to let go of your ego and be willing to fall. Visit this website to learn more and register for upcoming classes.

​If you’re looking for something a little more grounded, hoof it over to a goat yoga class in your area. Yes, we said goat yoga. Goat yoga pairs exercise with the many therapeutic effects of interacting with animals. Goat yoga can help you disconnect from stressors in your life by pairing nature, animals, and healthy physical activity. Goats act like therapy animals – their presence can help you relax, lower anxiety, and promote release of serotonin, prolactin and oxytocin, all hormones that help improve mood.
 
The goats are well trained and will help you with asanas like warrior, tree, back bends or simply meditating. Visit www.azgoatyoga.com to learn more. You’ve goat to sign up for classes today, because they sell out fast!

​“X-ercise” Marks the Spot! Get moving and find some treasures
 
Time flies when you’re having fun, right? Get the entire family moving with a treasure hunt this summer.
 
For an adventure that will take you all over town, try geocaching. Geocaching is an activity where you follow directions on your phone or GPS and find hidden “caches” near you. There are over two million geocaches worldwide, so there is no shortage of treasures you can find. The caches are usually a box with one or more knick-knacks inside. Once you find the treasure, sign the logbook, trade knick-knacks if you want, and log what you find online. Put the geocache back and move on to your next adventure! Geocaching is an exciting way to get you moving and explore beautiful places in your city. Pack some snacks and water, then sign up at www.geocaching.com/play to start your treasure hunt!

​Geocaching isn’t the only way to put a little adventure in your daily dose of physical activity. You can make your own scavenger hunt for your family, or sign up for an organized scavenger hunt near you. Urban Adventure Quest offers scavenger hunts around Phoenix and Tucson. You get to complete challenges, earn points, and see sights, all while getting a ton of great exercise. The hunts also have a leaderboard with everyone’s time, so don’t slow down! If you’re in Flagstaff with your family, try this scavenger hunt and see how many things on the checklist you can find.

​Channel Your Inner Child! Pick a game and get your play on
 
If you prefer to stay in the comfort of air-conditioning, there are tons of creative ways to get your exercise indoors. Many video games like Zumba and Just Dance offer a fun way to work out in the comfort of your own home. This website features indoor game ideas that can help get you and your family moving, all while having fun. From hallway bowling to animal races, find a unique way to turn your home into a fit, fun play zone.
 
Break out some old toys! Hula hooping is an easy way to get a complete core workout at home. Hooping regularly works as many as 30 of your body’s muscles and helps to sculpt your waist and strengthen your stomach muscles. Set up an obstacle course with jump ropes, hula hoops, or whatever else you have laying around your home and garage.

 Tired of staying at home? You may not think of games like bowling as exercise, but you can burn anywhere from 170 to 300 calories per game. Bowling helps your body and arms receive a weight-based workout and, just like any other exercise, helps reduce your risk of various health issues. Plus, it’s fun for everyone!
 
With all these exciting and creative ways to exercise, you can fight boredom and get moving even in this summer heat. Do you have more weird and whacky ways to stay active? Share them in the comments!