Exercise routines can get boring after a while, and spring is a great time to get out of your DFW home and shake it up a little bit. Trying an unconventional outdoor activity for exercise gives you the perfect opportunity to enjoy the Texas outdoors before the heat of summer sets in.
Get in the Team Spirit
Spring is softball season in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, and you’ll find leagues in virtually every neighborhood. Join a team through your church or form a group with your coworkers. Not only will you get a great workout on the field, but the teamwork involved in playing a sport together could translate into a better work environment.
Leagues are forming all over the Metroplex, with many starting play in June. You’ll find leagues for women, men, co-ed, and seniors in most Metroplex cities.
Throwing and running are great exercise routines to catch a little cardio and build strength in your arms and legs. If you like to socialize and meet new people, joining a softball league is the way to go.
Get Your Disc On
Many parks throughout the Metroplex feature disc golf courses. The object is to hit targets throughout the course, with the winner being the player who hits the targets in the least amount of throws. Disc golf has gained popularity over the last 20 years.
Serious disc golfers have different discs that they use in different course situations, similar to golf. Disc putters and drivers can be smaller or heavier than conventional Frisbees.
Disc golf provides some cardio as you walk through the course. And just like in softball, you’ll strengthen your arms with every throw.
Flex and Breathe
If competitive sports aren’t your thing, head over to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden for a more relaxing exercise routine. On Saturday mornings you can take a tai chi from Dragon Palm Kung Fu.
An instructor leads classes through gentle, focused movements and breathing exercises that provide stress release and flexibility. You can also get a little cardio beforehand by taking a walk through the blooming gardens.
Planting Seeds at Home
If you like to stick close to home, get a workout by gardening in your yard or the closest community garden. Gardening may not seem like a great workout, but when you are carrying heavy sacks of peat moss, hoeing, digging, and pulling weeds, you’re getting a lot of cardio and strength-building activity.
Exercise opportunities are as close as your back yard or as far as some of the area lakes, which have recently recharged with all of the spring rains. Find something new to keep you fit.
Image Source: Flickr/Todd Dwyer
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