Winter is a time of comfort eating, baggy clothes and sitting by the fire while stuffing your face with marshmallows. Summer… now that’s a whole other story.
As days slowly become longer and the weather a little warmer, many of us have turned our attention to getting those summer bodies back into gear. While running on the promenade and hitting the gym is a great way to get your fitness back on track, some of us need a little something different to keep us extra motivated. Here are five unique ways to get fit for summer:
Pole Dancing:
Pole dancing has a bit of a bad reputation thanks to its association with strip clubs, but if you’re looking for a killer ab workout, this is it. It’s also a great way to engage muscles you didn’t know you had, as each move is dynamic and engages multiple muscles at once as you climb, lift your weight and hold the weight. ‘Feel the burn’ will be your new favourite phrase! There are some incredible pole classes around Cape Town, including South Pole.
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Kickboxing
There are so many benefits to trying out kickboxing that goes beyond toning and losing weight. It’s also a great way to learn how to defend yourself (especially as a woman) while simultaneously boosting your confidence and heart health. You may pick up one or two bruises along the way, but this aerobic workout will provide you with the tone-up and endurance you need for summer. Monkon Muay Thai in Durbanville is a great stop if you’re in the Northern Suburbs, although there are plenty of other clubs around Cape Town.
Barre
Barre is something that has recently made its way to Cape Town and is an athletic blend between elements of ballet, pilates, yoga and light and cardio training. While ballet may seem like an elegant form of dance, get ready to sweat and do an ugly cry because this can be a tough workout. However, it’s a fun way to gain strength and lengthen your body as you tone and get stronger. There are a number of barre studios around Cape Town, including Barre Body situated in Green Point.
Aerial Yoga
If you love yoga but you’re looking to take your practice to new heights, aerial yoga will help you do just that. Not only is this a great way to activate your core, but it will help you deepen your stretches and relieve some joint pain if you suffer from this. This is definitely a great way to spice up your workout routine, with a number of yoga studios around Cape Town, including La Vie Wellness.
Ninjitsu
Have you ever watched movies that featured ninjas and thought: “Wow, I’d love to do that.” Ninjitsu is an effective martial art that includes armed and unarmed combat but is primarily focused on teaching awareness rather than fighting. It’s an interesting method of learning self-defence and is a hell of a way to get your cardio in. Ninjitsu Ryu is one of only a few studios in Cape Town that teaches this ancient form of martial arts.
Also read:
It’s time to ditch the duvet covers! 6 Benefits of workout in the morning
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