There are more ways to get fit and meet new people in London than just going to the gym. In fact I find that I meet less people in a gym than when out doing other activites. Feel free to add your suggestions too
Swing is in! And so is Zumba!
Dance classes are fun, social and get your heart beating. You might also be able to impress your friends the next time you're at a wedding and they call a slow dance...
Or cycle anywhere else for that matter, but given the traffic in London it's nicer to be away from the cars... Low impact, fresh air, take a picnic lunch, stop for a coffee or a pub lunch... Great for the legs and the heart
A group workout in the park with an ex-Military trainer shouting at you or maybe a Civi trainer shouting at you... Some people just need the shouting I guess... (I'm sure it's not all about the shouting thou ;)
Some trainers will have you out in all weathers, but you'll get the results you want! A personal trainer will challenge you and mix up your workouts so that you're always pushing your edge. 1-2-1 sessions are the way to go and are often fit around your work schedule.
Very popular right now with fantastically muscled guys on the internet, Calisthenics or Bar workouts simply require a chin-up bar, a set of dip rings and some determination! Build up slowly, stretch out before and afterwards, learn what you can from youtube... And in no time you'll be ripped! Ladies, you'll be much stronger than your sister and probably most men, but you're highly unlikely to look like a female hulk ;)
Calm the mind, get flexible and super strong too! It's all good!
Callanetics might be seen as a bit 80's these days, but it's a very effective form of body sculpting. Developed and popularised by a former dancer Lotte Berk, you can still get her DVD on Amazon if you want to
More for toning and strengthening the core muscles, pilates is a favourite of celebrities and anyone who wants to look taller, slimmer and more balanced. It's harder than it looks and you may well be sweating like a maniac while doing tiny little movements... So don't underestimate the power of pilates!
This might sound a bit extreme and it can be, but there are groups that teach the basics of freerunning with a focus on safety and technique first. You won't be leaping off buildings any time soon...
Once you learn it's lots of fun, low impact on your joints (unless you like to skate agressive) and you're bound to make new friends! It's a bit weather dependent so take up iceskating for the winter and wetter months?
There are ice rinks in London all year round, but especially in Winter when there are pop-up rinks all over the capital
A simple piece of equipment to get an amazing cardio and muscle building working in about 20 minutes. You can probably tell that I'm a big fan! Tone, strengthen and keep your pump in good condition, all in one intense workout
Or Zuzka Light, the former founder of Bodyrock home workouts
It's great for fitness, self defence, self control and discipline, as well as for meeting new people. I studied Tae Kwon Do from the age of 8 until 17 and it was foundational to my development. And better still, it's never too late to start!
Exercises that use your own body weight are perhaps the best and most effective without any equipment. Squats, pushups, jumping jacks... Great for building muscle, toning, burning fat and giving you a cardio workout all at the same time! What's not to love?
Cross Fit or XFit is all about mobility, strength and endurance, packed into a 20 minute WOD (Workout Of the Day). XFit builds phenomenal bodies that are capable of incredible feats of strength and endurance! I'm equally awed by and scared of Cross Fit. There is a strong emphasis on proper technique and form in a good XFit Box (Gym) and the difficulty of workouts will be tailored to your experience and ability level. That said if you over do it, call me for a shiatsu!
Have your heard of Suspension training? TRX is a hugely versatile piece of kit, which uses your body weight and the instability caused by a long piece of nylon ribbon attached to a doorway or a tree to seriously work your body! Easy to learn, hard to master!
There are a series of linked walks around London that start and end at a train station and are designed to be done in sections, check the link for more details
