Choosing a sport isn’t as easy as it sounds. Why? Because everyone is different.
You might like full-on, high-intensity workouts, whereas others may favour the social side to exercise. Intensity might be important to some, but not to those who keep body and mind healthy through gentle activity. We’re all different, and we like to exercise in different ways.The key is finding the right sport for you.
And this is what makes a Neilson activity holiday, the opportunity to discover your thing. The thing that makes you tick. The majority of sports are included in our packages, meaning the chance that you’ll actually find something you love is, quite frankly, through the roof. And that’s the best advice we can give: try as many things as you can, and as many as you want. You never know which sport you might end up falling in love with - it’ll probably be something you never would’ve thought of.
In the meantime, here’s a little inspiration to match some seriously addictive sports with your exercise habits.
The water has to be one of our favourite places to exercise. From the simple joys of a casual swim to fast-paced thrills, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of being in (or on) the waves.
If you like high-intensity exercise, you’ll love the serious speed water skiing and wakeboarding have to offer. We’ve got some incredible boats ready to tow you across the water - you’ll be throwing in tricks and grabs in no time. Be warned, though. It’s addictive, seriously addictive.
Fancy harnessing the wind’s speed for a fierce leg workout? Kite surfing, windsurfing and dinghy sailing are all about learning to tame the gorgeous sea breeze as you power your legs through the ocean’s waves.
If you prefer to exercise at a gentler pace, stand up paddle boarding and kayaking provide the chance to take in the surrounding scenery at a more relaxed speed. That’s not to say they aren’t a great workout – both are fantastic for strengthening the arms and core. Abs, incoming.
When it comes to fitting exercise into busy lives, there’s nothing easier than a fitness class. You don’t need lots of equipment or time - simply turn up, work up a sweat and leave. Hell, you can even do the moves in your living room, garden or local park once you know what you’re doing – just think how many people have exercised to a real-time video of Joe Wicks!
Fitness classes are a brilliant way to try your hand (or feet) at a new sport with minimal commitment. Most gyms include unlimited classes in their membership, giving you the chance to dip in to a pick and mix of classes (like spinning) until you find the one you love.
Fun-packed classes like Zumba are popular for a reason – they’re welcoming, sociable and an amazing workout. As you dance away to infectious Latin music, you’ll barely notice the fact that every single muscle group is working away. Next step: dance classes!
For a real hardcore session, you can’t beat high-intensity classes like HIIT, circuits and Tabata. Short, sharp bursts of intense interval training have been shown to be hugely effective at improving fitness and strength, and provide a great foundation for many sports.
The gym isn’t for everyone, and sometimes we need to think of different ways to exercise if we want to stay motivated and inspired. We love sports that involve a bit of adventure, especially those that take you from the inside world out into nature.
Cycling is an amazing way to explore the countryside. Head off the beaten track and tackle different kinds of terrain. It’s a great leg and core workout, and the amount of calories you burn (without really noticing) is off the scale, quite literally.
Rock climbing is a fantastic sport for those that love a kick of adrenaline, but don’t have the time (or inclination) to head out into the wild all year round. When the weather is good, you can head into the mountains and bask in the sunlight; when the weather is grey and wet, you can practise your skills at a warm, dry indoor climbing wall.
Exercise has so many benefits besides keeping you fit. Combining low-impact movement with relaxation can do wonders for your mental wellbeing. Whether you supplement sports with some well-deserved de-stressing (our stretch and relax classes are a great way to loosen stiff muscles after a day of high-intensity sports) or are looking for sports suited to chronic conditions like arthritis, there are some wonderful things out there to keep body and mind feeling great.
Swimming is one the most popular low-impact sports around. The wonderful feeling of gliding through water is intensely calming and you can take things at a pace that suits you – unless you’re powering your way through the fast lane!
Activities like yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates all focus on stilling the mind through breathing, whilst boosting your core strength and flexibility at the same time.
For many of us, school PE classes had a nasty habit of draining the fun from a sport. But giving things another try can result in a whole different experience. Take tennis, for example. Once a game where we would walk what seemed like a whole mile to retrieve our only ball, has now become an addictive game of skill and reflex. So whether you fancy taking advantage of some expert coaching, or coming along for a chilled-out social game, our tennis courts are one of the best places to start.
If there’s a sport or activity that’s already calling your name, do check which beachclub it’s available at – we’d hate for you to miss out.
Never been on a fitness holiday? Not sure if it’s for you? That could be about to change.You see, how you spend a fitness holiday is entirely up to one person, and that'syou!
In recent years the popularity of taking a holiday that includes an active element such as cycling, hiking or watersports has been growing. Online searches for terms such as ‘activity holidays’ and ‘sport holidays’ are on the increase but what is behind this growth in popularity?
Just how many activities can you cram into a week? Try a Neilson Beachclub holiday to find out.
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