Start the year strong | Borneo Bulletin Online

, 2023-01-16 14:03:00,

Erik Vance

CNA/NEW YORK TIMES – If you’re looking for a way to get fit, there is no shortage of opinions about clever regimens to try. There are high-integrity interval training (HIIT) workouts, barre sessions, boot camps, Peloton influencers and Pilates gurus. But there is one piece of advice that almost every athlete and fitness expert points to as the key to success: Find an activity you like, and do that activity. That’s it.

If you love to bike, run, swim, dance, golf, climb mountains or play pickleball, then build a fitness plan to support that hobby. Basketball, squash, underwater hockey – whatever your jam – make time to do it. No amount of discipline or body-hacking can replace genuine passion for a sport or exercise.

As we head into a new year, it’s the perfect time to find one (or a few) you could get into. Why not try…

TESTING YOUR SKILLS BALANCE: Long-term fitness isn’t just about building speed and strength, it’s also about balance. Maybe you can run a six-minute mile and do 10 pull-ups, but how long can you stand on one foot? According to a recent research paper, about 20 per cent of older adults struggle to balance on one leg for 10 seconds or more. What’s more, those who could not do it were twice as likely to die within the next 10 years. Fortunately, there are ways to improve your balance.

FLEXIBILITY: Too easy? Test your flexibility. Experts say that flexibility is also a skill that can be improved just like strength or cardio endurance. And developing it can better your quality of life, so long as you put in the work. There are five tests you can do to find out if you are appropriately flexible, and, if you come up lacking, those same movements can help you improve.

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Game art for Elden Ring. PHOTO: BANDAI NAMCO

SWITCHING UP YOUR GYM ROUTINE ROWING: Want a good upper body workout but don’t like weights? Hope to combine strength and cardio to save time? Like the feeling of rowing but hate actually being on water? Try erging.

Once known as using a rowing machine, erging is one of those rare exercises where you can get upper body, lower body and cardio exercise all at once.

Classes are cropping up all over. It’s not hard to learn, but there a few tips you should know to get the most out of the workout.

BATTLE ROPES: Want to make a little noise? Try battle ropes. That’s right, those heavy ropes in the corner of the gym that look like they were dragged in from a pier provide a great full body workout while…

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