Olymp-spiration
There’s something — OK, many things — inspiring about the Olympics. There’s figure skater Mirai Nagasu, who didn’t make the U.S. team in 2014 but this year became the first woman to land a triple axel at the Olympics. There’s U.S. snowboarder Shaun White, who won his third Olympic gold medal this week — even after a crash during training required 62 stitches. There are 17-year-old athletes and those nearing 40. “The Olympics are definitely inspiration for us to get out there and be the healthiest version of ourselves,” says Jessica Crandall, a registered dietitian and exercise professional in Denver. Watching from the couch doesn’t count. Here’s how to translate inspiration into action, according to your favorite event:
Figure skating
Toe loops, lutzes, axels and flips — please don’t try these expert tricks at home. But what you can try is signing up for adult ballet classes, which can scratch your itch for moving to music, and build strength, coordination and flexibility at the same time. “Think about adding artistry to athletic activities,” says Brynn Putnam, a former professional dancer who founded Refine Method, a New York City high-intensity interval training studio. If you want something closer to a traditional fitness class, barre — a ballet-inspired workout that uses a ballet bar and small movements to build strength and flexibility — bridges that gap.
Alpine skiing
So you say you love watching Alpine skiing, a sport that involves some competitors reaching speeds of around 100 miles per hour, risking broken bones or worse? Translation: You’re an adrenaline junkie. To get your own white-knuckle fix, try mountain biking, suggests Josh Leve, the founder and CEO of the Oakland, California-based Association of Fitness Studios. “Mountain biking is a good one due to the fact that … there’s always going to be hills,” he says. “It’s not going to be the downhill skiing experience, but it’s along those lines.” If you can’t get outside, companies like Spintertainment offer mountain biking videos you can ride to on a spin bike.
Ski jumping
If you want to catch some air without taking a ski trip and lots of lessons, you’re in luck: Aerial yoga can give you that same sense of weightlessness. The activity, which is offered in studios around the country and world, uses (often colorful) hammocks to support students as they hang, twist, stretch and swing into various yoga and Pilates poses. Your feet may rarely touch the ground. The hammock, aka a “yoga trapeze,” “helps you find a deeper stretch you’re not able to do yourself,” Crandall says. Some cities offer actual trapeze lessons or trampoline-based classes, too. “Find something you love and are passionate about and can enjoy,” she says.
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is demanding, to say the least. Athletes need insane endurance; leg, glute, core and arm strength; and the ability to swiftly ski straight ahead, as well as side to side. But perhaps most appealing to the average Joe, they spend long stretches of time outside in the snow. If that idea gives you butterflies, try — wait for it — snow shoveling. “It’s an incredible full-body exercise, such that if you have a heart condition, you’re not advised not to do it,” Putnam says. Plus, hoisting uneven loads requires balance — which, along with flexibility, strength and speed — every Olympic athlete needs. “Even if you’re not an Olympian, those are all important,” Crandall says.
Bobsled
Sure, there’s an “I” in bobsleigh, but there’s no “I” in bobsled, which is what everyone calls it anyway. And for good reason: This sport requires two or four people, so you’ve got to be a team player to succeed. If you’re a team player, try joining a recreational league of your sport of choice — adult kickball, softball, soccer, hockey, basketball, bowling or whatever suits you — which you can find in cities everywhere. If that’s too much commitment, try an interval training workout with a friend, Putnam suggests. While one of you does a set of jumping jacks, pushups or burpees, the other one cheers. Then switch. “It’s a nice way to work out,” Putnam says.
Biathlon
Some people are good at endurance sports, some excel at sprints; some have great agility, others shine with strength. And then there are biathletes, who have an unlikely combination of skills: the cardiovascular ability and full-body strength needed for cross-country skiing, plus the precision needed to shoot a rifle and hit a target. If variety tickles your fancy, too, try obstacle course racing, or events like the Warrior Dash, Tough Mudder and Spartan Race that involve miles-long chases through mud, under barbed wire, over fire and more. CrossFit and boot camps can also appeal to that same mix-it-up urge, Crandall says. “Engage in versatile activities to keep you healthy,” she suggests, “instead of on the couch.”
More from U.S. News
How to Be the New Kid in Fitness Class
Here’s How Many Calories 7 Winter Chores Burn
13 Fun Sports That Burn Calories
The Best Exercise for You, According to Your Favorite Winter Olympic Sport originally appeared on usnews.com
