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9 Ways I Exercise without the Gym



I don’t know about you but I just don’t find sharing my sweat with a hundred other people all that inviting. I also am not a great fan of the floor to ceiling mirrors that most gyms seem to have, presuming that people like to check themselves out while exercising (is that a thing? As in does it somehow improve your exercise?). So as you can probably tell I’m not a fan of the gym unless of course I wake up feeling the need to be alone and self-conscious in a sea of people. Ummm no thanks!

But having an aversion to the gym (and their fees) doesn’t mean I have an aversion to staying fit. Here are some of the frugal ways I like to exercise ……..

1.      Bushwalking or hiking – my absolute favourite and one you can enjoy with the whole family. Tip – if you have kids who are not yet seasoned hikers it’s a good idea to let them choose the paths you take(as long as you’re not getting lost). If you just follow them instead of trying to lead them it becomes more of an adventure for them as they are the ones doing the discovering.  Don’t rush things with kids or make it success driven. Just go slowly and let them appreciate nature.


2.      Take your dog for a walk – the majority of the population don’t walk their dogs enough. I’ve known people who spend hours at the gym while their doggies sit at home in tiny backyards alone. Walking your dog is not only good for you but it is really good for your dog’s physical and mental health. And if you’ve ever had a crazy puppy you’ll know how significant your dog’s mental health can be to your own mental health.


3.      Go for a walk with a friend – rather than catch up for a coffee and cake go for a walk instead. Most of the time if you are walking with a friend you are more inclined to walk for longer as most of the time you just have a whole lot more to say (or maybe that’s just me J).


4.      There is an app for that! – Whatever exercise you like you can be guaranteed there is an app for it. My personal favourite is Simply Yoga, where I can do 20, 40 or 60 minute session that are easy or intermediate. I paid $4 for the app which wouldn’t even cover my petrol to the $20 yoga class I used to attend.


5.      Go for a swim in the ocean or the river – yes before $100,000 pools became the norm in a lot of Australian backyards people used to (and still do) go for a swim in the ocean or the river.


6.      There is a YouTube channel for that – again, whatever exercise you like you can be guaranteed there is someone offering classes on YouTube.  I like to get recommendations from friends so that I don’t get stuck searching only to end up watching funny cat videos for hours in my active wear (now that’s just sad!)


7.      Play tennis – most tennis clubs are obliged to offer free tennis court facilities so there is no shortage of courts to play on. So grab some friends who like a hit and hone your skills.


8.      Go for a bike ride – once again a great one to do with the family. There are so many hidden bike tracks out there to be discovered!


9.      Do It Yourself – do your own gardening, car washing, house cleaning. Instead of paying someone else to do it, save your money and get some exercise at the same time. Win win.
What sort of gym-free exercise do you enjoy?


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