Fred Astaire Dance Studios encourages people who want to meet their fitness goals in the new year to explore exercise alternatives as a way to stay committed to regular workouts.

After indulging in holiday flavors, Christmas cookies, and abundant feasts with family, many people vow to make a change as the new year dawns. To start fresh and boost energy, people make weight loss resolutions. People start diet plans, adopt exercise regimes, and fill their refrigerators with fruits and vegetables to help them stay on the right track.

In a bid to get physically fit and improve their mental health, more than 23% of Americans resolved to lose weight after the New Year’s festivities ended in 2021, according to Medifast, a health and wellness program. Unfortunately, nearly half of people fall off the fitness wagon within the first month, reports Medifast. Busy schedules, work responsibilities, and the rigorous demands of family life make it difficult for people to maintain their resolutions. Finding an exercise strategy that sticks can be challenging, and heading to the gym to run on the treadmill can get repetitive. It’s crucial to try a variety of exercise options to stay motivated.

Fred Astaire Dance Studios recommends exploring exercise alternatives this year to achieve weight loss resolutions. Consider some of these fun options designed to get your heart rate up and improve your physical fitness.

• Hiking. Spending time in nature is a balm for the soul. Research suggests nature can improve cognitive development, reduce stress, decrease loneliness, and fuel emotional well-being, according to the American Psychological Association. Hiking combines the positive impacts nature provides and improves physical fitness. Taking a hike can burn more calories than a simple walk because of the variety of terrain. A hike can burn between 430 to 550 calories.

• Martial arts. Attending a martial arts class is a full-body workout designed to increase mobility and build muscle. It can improve flexibility and posture. Martial arts, such as karate or taekwondo, require focus and control, which helps reduce stress. Many martial arts studios offer classes for adults interested in experimenting with a new hobby.

• Team sports. Team sports are a great way for children to stay physically fit, build confidence, and improve social skills. Opportunities to play on a team are available for adults, too. Many towns have adult sporting options through their parks and recreation department, including softball, kickball, volleyball, and more. A growing number of adults are having fun playing pickleball, a paddle sport featuring many of the components of ping pong, badminton, and tennis. Joining a team is a fun, social way to meet your exercise goals.

• Biking. Hopping on the exercise bike at the gym burns calories, but the view is stationary. Consider donning a helmet and exploring some of the biking trails in your area. Many cities are installing greenways and bike lanes to make outdoor cycling more accessible. If you are adventurous, many parks have mountain biking trails to get the blood pumping.

• Ballroom dancing. A ballroom dance lesson is a low-impact workout that can burn calories, improve cardiovascular health, and increase muscle strength. A ballroom dancing class can burn up to 320 calories per hour. Dancing also helps improve flexibility and boost bone density. Ballroom dancing can help improve mental health and slow the onset of dementia. Most importantly, ballroom dancing is fun.

Fred Astaire Dance Studios offers group and private ballroom dancing lessons to help you learn how to cha-cha, swing, and mambo. Our instructors follow a dance curriculum to help you get your feet moving and master new moves. We have dance parties to help you practice your skills in a social setting.

In addition to tripping the light fantastic at a ballroom dance class, there are a variety of group dance classes that can be a fun alternative to riding the exercise bike or hopping on the elliptical at the gym.

Barre. A barre class relies on a ballet barre and other ballet movements to help people stay in shape. Check out this ad from a popular barre class provider.

Jazzercise. Dance fitness is not a new trend. Jazzercise started offering its high-energy classes in 1969. The classes combine cardio, strength, Pilates, hip hop, yoga, and kickboxing. A 60-minute class can burn up to 800 calories.

Zumba. By showcasing salsa dancing and international music, Zumba offers an energetic, upbeat fitness option for people of all ages and abilities. With more than 200,000 locations, it’s easy to find a Zumba class in your area.

Start Dancing at FADS.

Our dance instructors can help you meet your fitness goals this year by teaching you how to waltz, tango, and jive. Contact your local Fred Astaire Dance Studios locations to find out more about exercise alternatives and take advantage of our introductory offer to get started today.