According to MedicineNet.com, “nearly half of American youths aged 12-21 years are not vigorously active on a regular basis". Although it can be difficult to motivate yourself to stay fit, the results are worth it. This website also explains that the teens who do exercise enjoy many benefits, including stronger bones, more favorable blood pressure, and a healthier weight. The same old method of exercise can become tedious and boring. However, you need not only run or work out to stay in shape. There are more fun and interesting things you can do for exercise! So mix it up a little bit and try one of the following activities instead of your normal routine.
Ultimate Frisbee: Gather some friends, and go to the park for a game of Frisbee! Ultimate Frisbee is fun, active, and easy to organize. Make up some rules, or play with the official regulations. For a list of these, click here.
Swing Dancing: Lately, Nashville has become a hot spot for evening swing dance sessions, including the free summer series of "Big Band Dances" in Centennial Park. Of the several different programs in Nashville, the highest cover charge is $7, and there are free lessons! Bring some friends, or meet new people, and enjoy an energetic night of dancing inspired by "big band” music of the 1930’s. For more information on upcoming dance events, see the Teenedge calendar or visit Dance Nashville Online.
Ice Skating: Ice skating is another activity that can be really fun, but also great for your body. Take a friend and talk while skating around the rink. If you’ve never gone ice skating before, don’t be discouraged! Find someone who’d be willing to teach you, and then practice! It won’t be long before you catch on. To check on times/dates of public skating at the Centennial Sportsplex (off West End Ave), click here. For the schedule of Southern Ice (in Cool Springs), click here. Cost is approximately $6 per person.
Volunteering: Believe it or not, there are many rewarding volunteer opportunities that can help you stay fit. One example is walking dogs at the Humane Association. They can always use volunteers! For more information, go to Nashville Humane Online. Also, any activity involving watching or playing with young children usually requires a good deal of running around, so find out if any nonprofit daycare centers or schools near you might need help on a certain day or at an event. The Hands on Nashville website is another great resource, and we're featuring some projects exclusively for teens in our Teenedge "Get Involved" section. (Click here.)
Shooting Hoops: This isn’t just an activity for people who play basketball. It can be fun and productive for just about anyone. Gyms are fairly common at community centers, or even some churches, so grab some friends and play a game of “Gotcha” or "Knockout"!
Jumping Rope: An activity that can be done virtually anywhere, jumping rope is wonderful exercise for the legs and arms. It will also help strengthen your cardiovascular system. Just five minutes of jumping rope can be extremely effective.
Don't let yourself fall into the category of an inactive young person. The sooner you start to exercise, the better you'll feel! Plus, as regular activity becomes a habit, it will become easier. Not to mention, with some of these ideas, you can actually have a good time!