There are a lot of benefits in trying new workouts. Not only is it more motivating to give yourself different exercises to do, but your body and social life can benefit to. You'll meet different people, and by combining outdoor and indoor activities, you can get some fresh air and have a break from noisy, sweaty, and crowded gyms.



Perhaps more importantly, our bodies become conditioned to our exercise programs. We tend to focus on specific muscles during our routines, and by changing the activity we do, we can work more muscle groups without having to think about it too much. We start to see results more quickly if we vary our program regularly.

Here are some different fitness activities to try:

Aqua fitness takes on many styles, as the four examples below show:

Aqua boxing - a combination of taebox, tai chi, karate, and kickboxing. Aqua boxing is great for cardiovascular fitness, coordination, muscle control and flexibility.

Aqua cardio - using a buoyancy belt.

Low impact aqua classes - good for those recovering from injuries. This is done in shallow water.

Aqua pilates - pilates movements are done in the water to build core strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance. If you haven't done pilates before, it might be best to try it on dry land first, as it may seem a bit harder in the water.

Check out your nearest aqua fitness center as there are no doubt more types of classes available.

Nordic walking - Even if you live in a country as dry as Australia, you can still get the benefits of a cross country ski workout. Essentially, this style of exercise mimics the gait of cross country skiing, and uses poles, but no skis, and no snow necessary. The poles make it an upper body workout as well, and the long strides are great for the legs and buttocks.

Pole dancing - This exercise is a favorite with some celebrities, including Teri Hatcher. It's a great cardiovascular workout, and helps improve confidence and body tone.

Duo training - This style of training is for two people. Each person provides resistance for the other, and you both get a workout at the same time. This is also a good way to motivate each other to stick to a fitness schedule. Now, instead of meeting for coffee or a drink, why not meet to workout together!

There are of course many other ways to add variety to our programs. Simply by adding weights to a cardio workout, using different machines, trying a different fitness DVD, or even going back to basics like using a skipping rope, cycling with varying intensity, or trying shorter workouts at a greater intensity. They key is to break any routine that your body and mind are settling into. Fitness becomes a lot more fun then, and there is nothing more motivating than fast results.