Have the Olympics inspired you to be more active, try a new form of exercise or up your training game? You can take your workouts to another level by incorporating the following Olympic sports into your routine and train like an Olympian.
1. Swimming
There’s no denying, swimming is one of the best full body workouts out there – Who knew it was possible to sweat underwater?! And with so many different strokes out there to perfect, you’ll never be without a challenge.
Take note: The main strokes used in competitive swimming are breaststroke, freestyle, backstroke and butterfly.
Unlike other forms of exercise, swimming is suitable even for those with joint pain and arthritis. Swimming keeps your heart rate up while taking impact stress off your body. Swimming also builds endurance, tones muscles and builds strength. Just look at the muscle definition on Olympic swimmers! #Goals
2. Weightlifting
If you’re new to weightlifting, you might think the weights room is not your territory. Well think again! Weightlifting is becoming more and more popular thanks to social media fitness influencers, and rightly so due to all the benefits it has to offer. Weightlifting isn’t just about bulking up and building muscle mass. It’s about so much more! Benefits include improved posture, better sleep, aiding weight loss and boosting metabolism.
To get started, practice lifts with very light weight to perfect your form. Once your form is down to a T, slowly increase the load. If you’re already on the bandwagon and are wanting to up your game, have you tried Olympic style lifts such as cleans, jerks and snatches? If in doubt, always ask for professional guidance from a trained fitness coach.
3. Track
Running shot up in popularity during lockdown as the gyms were a no-go for a long time. Now the gyms are open and we can go back to our usual method of training, don’t leave running out in the cold. Incorporating running into your workout routine can help to build strong bones, strengthen muscles and improve cardiovascular fitness. Which is why track stars are some of the leanest and most well-defined athletes at the Olympics. Include sprints and interval running into your workouts to reap all the benefits and notice a difference in your cardiovascular fitness.
4. Boxing
Boxing is a sport loved by many, but have you ever thought to use boxing techniques in your workout? Even without gloves or a bag, jabbing, hooking and upper-cutting your way through a workout will most definitely leave you feeling like you’ve won gold. Boxing can give you better overall strength, increased hand-eye coordination and better stamina and endurance.
Top tip: Try holding a light weight in each hand while shadow boxing to add resistance and really burn out your whole upper body.
5. Cycling
Seeing the way the Olympic athletes whizz around the velodrome is fascinating and also a little daunting. You can incorporate cycling into your workout routine – even if you don’t have a bike! Spinning is a fast paced, low impact form of exercise best carried out in a group class setting for maximum motivation and guidance. Depending on the intensity of the class, an hour-long Spin session can burn anywhere from 600-1000 calories! Spinning is pretty intense but once you start, you’ll never look back.
If you’re wanting to try any of these training styles but don’t know where to begin, make use of our FREE Inspire programme for Life Leisure members and our extensive range of classes. Unleash your inner athlete today.