When it comes to exercise, sometimes you just have to sneak up on yourself: like this scene from 'Happy Feet', getting fit often happens most successfully when you trick yourself into not thinking about it. And, as well all know, that ain’t going to happen at the gym. So escape the bubble-muscled weight-lifters and people tossing their heads like show ponies on the cross trainers – and get stuck into one of these six alternative forms of exercise instead.
‘Play Hard’ is the motto of Rabble, an organisation that has taken the challenge of creating non-boring exercise very seriously (sort of). An immediate hit when first launched in London, Rabble sessions are all about playing short, sharp team games from start to finish – so that when you’re capturing the flag or dodging the ball in Chorlton Park, you don’t notice you’re getting a sweat on.
Dance
Dancing isn’t just great exercise, it’s also a skill. So, if you want to be able to show off your tap dance moves at a party, or crack out some flamenco on a date, then take a look at The Dancehouse’s comprehensive list of classes. The weekly schedule has ballet, tap, contemporary, street dance, Hula Hooping and more covered. Or, for more, cough, modern forms (like pole dancing and vogueing) as well as the Latin classics, Sunshine Studios in the Northern Quarter is a better bet.
Who knew that there was a world-class bouldering centre not far from Victoria Station? Yup, so you can go on a beginner bouldering course, in which you’ll learn how to scramble your way up a wall without a rope or harness (good for strength and, we imagine, a real adrenaline work out) at Rock Over Climbing and then amble back into the Northern Quarter to undo all your good work.
With a name like a mission statement, Evolve is where alternative fitness gets serious: based in MediaCityUK, this centre offers lessons in parkour and freerunning (think the Casino Royale opening sequence), obstacle course training, trapeze, silks and, on the more traditional end of the spectrum, circuit training. Evolve faster, human.
The Olympics did a lot for cycling in Britain – and now whole swathes of the nation have an expensive bit of metal (with wheels) to trip over in the hallway. If you’re not one of them, you can still make like Victoria Pendleton or Chris Froome at the National Cycling Centre: sign up to an hour’s taster session and you’ll be lent a track bike as part of the cost.
The aim in this mashup of football and golf is to get a size 5 football into the hole using only your feet – and the fewest number of kicks possible. It’s a great team game, played outside and with none of the pressure of trying to get around a course when you don’t yet know your woods from your wedges. The nearest place to play is in Prestwich.
By Polly Checkland Harding.
See more things to do in Manchester from Time Out.