10 Workouts to Boost Your Metabolism
Here’s how to reach your fitness goals: 10 workouts to boost your metabolism and break your weight loss plateau! Remember that losing weight is easier when you exercise in new, different, and fun ways. Out of these 10 new workouts, I can almost guarantee you’ll find one that intrigues you…
Before the workout tips, a quip:
“I have to exercise in the morning before my brain figures out what I’m doing,” said Marsh Doble. She also quipped, “My idea of exercise is a good brisk sit.”
By the way, if you want to live longer, try golfing. New research shows that the death rate for golfers is 40% lower than for non-golfers of the same sex, socioeconomic status, and age. This translates to a life expectancy of five years longer than the rest of the population! For more info on breaking your weight loss plateau, click on 100 Ways to Boost Your Metabolism. And, read on for 10 new ways to workout…they’ll have you burning calories, boosting your metabolism, and breaking your weight loss plateau before your brain figures out what the heck’s going on…
10 New Workouts to Boost Your Metabolism
1. Nia is a whole-body expressive exercise - a fitness experience - that blends 9 movement forms, is done barefoot to music, and enhances the mind-body-spirit connection. It’s self-guided, which means you don’t have to “follow the leader.” Nia is a workout that can help you reach your fitness goals and boost your metabolism by encouraging your body to move in new ways, which will startle it out of its weight loss plateau.
2. Laughter Yoga combines breathing movements with “tee-hee-hee’s” and “ha-ha-ha’s” to increase energy, lift moods, and relieve tension, increases oxygen flow, lower blood pressure, decrease stress hormones, and increases immune function (and of course, this workout can help you reach your fitness goals and boost your metabolism!). “We can now laugh at will, for absolutely no reason, and we get all the health benefits,” says laughter yoga teacher Jeffrey Briar of the Laughter Yoga Institute. “Plus, when done in a group, any ‘forced’ laughter quickly becomes real due to the social factor.”
3. Beach Tennis is a new workout that combines a regulation beach volleyball court with tennis, and suits all skill levels. It can be played with strangers or family - a great way to meet people. Beach tennis will get you sweating fast, which will boost your metabolism quickly! To really break that weight loss plateau and reach your fitness goals, play it regularly (just trying it once may not be an effective way to lose weight).
4. Capoeira is a new way to work out for many North Americans; it combines self-defense, music and acrobatics. Capoeira encourages women to be strong, confident, and powerful. Other dance workouts include Teasersize, the Showgirl Workout, Pole Dancing, Belly Dancing, Hip Hop, jazzercise, etc - any type of dancing and sweating will trim your muscles, build new brain cells, and boost your metabolism. Plus, these workouts increase your motivation to lose weight.
5. Dragon Boat Racing is, for me, a new workout that improves back, shoulder, and arm strength - and research shows that it increases the health of breast cancer survivors. Or, try canoeing or kayaking for an exhilarating challenge or restorative activity. Using your arms and upper body can break your weight loss plateau by using muscle groups in different ways. (Okay, these may not be new workouts to you - but have you tried them? To reach your fitness goals, try these new workouts to see if they boost your metabolism and break your weight loss plateau).
6. Bhangra Aerobics is a lively form of folk music and dance, originating in India. Other forms of aerobics include aerobic boxing, step aerobics, and kwando. Any type of aerobics that gets your heart pumping and the sweat flowing can help you reach your fitness goals and boost your metabolism - especially if you do it regularly. Once is never enough!
7. Vocal Gym is a playful way to wake up both your body and your voice. Yoga poses and simple body movements are combined with song - for both singers and non-singers alike. This is a great workout if you’re recovering from illness, interested in trying a new way to work out that’s not overly strenuous, or needing a change from your regular exercise routine.
8. Dance Sport combines the beauty and grace of ballroom dancing with the thrill of competition. Though ballroom dancing isn’t exactly a “new” way to work out, we often forget how dancing improves brain health, coordination, and intimacy between couples. If your ballroom dancing makes you feel graceful and fluid, you’ll be motivated to reach your fitness goals and break through your weight loss plateau.
9. Dru Yoga keeps joints relaxed, which creates a free flow of energy. It balances the chakras, improves spine flexibility, reduces back pain and controls stress. Dru yoga is about accessing the heart, healing painful emotions, and relieving your body of negative energy. This “new” way to work out involves becoming emotionally grounded, which makes emotional eating less likely - which in turn can help you can help you reach your fitness goals and break your weight loss plateau.
10. Hoop Fitness strengthens your core, sculpts your waistline, and relieves anxiety. It’s easy to do at home (with your kids!); weighted hoops and videos are available on the internet. While “hula hooping” isn’t a new workout, hoop fitness led by a qualified, experienced instructor can can help you reach your fitness goals and boost your metabolism by forcing your hips and core to move in new ways. Plus, it’ll make you laugh. :-)
If you’ve tried any of these workouts, please let me know how they worked out for you!
Comment by LauriePK on 6 July 2008:
Here’s a link to a great article on Bhangra Aerobics http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3634040.stm
Finding Bhangra or Nia or beach tennis may be difficult where you live. The most effective way to find new exercises is to go to your local fitness center, community center, or gym and see what they’re offering. For instance, my local recreation center offers Teasercize, which I hear is fabulous!