Who's guilty of using the cold weather as an excuse as to why you can't possibly be expected to exercise 😗 today? *raises hand*.
It's far too easy to put off getting into a new sport until the summer.
Until now, that is.
.
.
😗 because we've got 12 (pretty fun, even if we do say so ourselves) ways to get your heart rate going, 😗 get those endorphins rushing and get you looking badass while doing so.
Yep, no more having to look painfully frozen while 😗 you wear sweaty gloves (SO uncomfortable) to run outside.
1.Trampolining
Why should I take it up?
Besides from the fact it may well 😗 be the most fun form of exercise ever, you'll find trampolining works out the whole body with all the twisting 😗 and turning and, yes, landing in all sorts of different positions – sometimes, not always intentionally.
Your heart rate will definitely 😗 be increased from all that bouncing while it's also pretty good for improving balance and coordination.
Where can I try it 😗 out?
Trampolining's become way more acceptable as something for adults to do in their spare time in the past couple of 😗 years and there are loads of indoor park operators to try out, from Flip Out to Bounce.
Meanwhile, Oxygen Free Jumping 😗 has new fitness classes at parks around the UK – you can burn up to 1,000 calories a session – 😗 and they range from HIIT-focused, to the martial-arts influenced Combat classes, as well as bootcamp or circuits-style workouts.
2.Cycling
Why should I 😗 take it up?
For a couple of weeks last summer, we all got weirdly obsessed with how good Team GB are 😗 at whizzing around on a pair of wheels.
If you fancy yourself as a bit of an Olympic hero a la 😗 Jason Kenny or Laura Trott, indoor track cycling is a high-speed sport all about stamina and nerve.
If you're still a 😗 bit unsure about how it differs from taking a bike on the road, here's the deal: the bikes have no 😗 brakes or gears and when you first start you'll likely be skidding across the track a fair bit.
But it's an 😗 exciting way to get seriously fit – and the speed is an adrenaline rush.
If you don't quite feel ready for 😗 the steep curves of a velodrome yet, that's totally understandable – and spinning is a low-key alternative.
You get just as 😗 high on endorphins on a fixed bike and boy, will you work those thighs.
Indoor cyclers can burn about 600 calories 😗 a class, depending on much you turn up that resistance and how much effort you put in.
Where can I try 😗 it out?
The UK has a lot to offer those considering taking up track cycling, with taster sessions available at world 😗 class indoor velodromes, such as the National Cycling Centre in Manchester.
Elsewhere in the country, there's the Lee Valley VeloPark at 😗 the Olympic Park in London, the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow, the Wales National Velodrome in Newport and the 😗 newly constructed Derby Velodrome.
So, admittedly, there's not too many locations for indoor cycling.
However, when it comes to spinning, there's a 😗 lot more choice of where to go – most local gyms host spin classes while some studios take things up 😗 a level with lighting, music and vibes that make you feel like you're at a nightclub.
Try out 1Rebel if you're 😗 in London to see what we mean – there's music freshly mixed each week by 1Rebel DJs.
3.Futsal
Why should I take 😗 it up?
Because maybe you're a bit bored of playing football, or you've never quite fancied kicking about a ball on 😗 a muddy pitch.
Futsal is played with just five players on each side and it's on a small indoor field.
The game 😗 is really popular with kids but more adults are playing now.
The ball has less bounce but other than that, it's 😗 pretty similar to football – you'll develop ball skills and technical ability, you tackle but slide tackles are banned and 😗 it's great for fitness, balance and agility.
Plus, there's no offside rule, so it's a bit simpler – but loads of 😗 fun.
Where can I try it out?
We found loads more info on futsal on the The FA website, and this is 😗 handy for finding out how to get involved (there are now adult leagues for both men and women across the 😗 country).4.Badminton/Squash
Why should I take it up?
We're lumping these two together because they're both racquet sports which kinda remind us a 😗 bit of PE lessons at school.
But hey, that's not to say you shouldn't give them a go.
They're both snazzy for 😗 developing some important life skills – hand-eye co-ordination especially.
They also improve flexibility and are super good for your fitness because, 😗 if played properly of course, these racquet sports have you running, jumping and even diving for the ball/shuttlecock.
They're also fun 😗 because you need to play with other people so you can get yourself some new friends (that's not to say 😗 we think you need any).
Where can I try it out?
There are plenty of gyms and clubs with either or both 😗 badminton or squash courts in.
In fact, there are over 20,000 badminton courts and 1,800 clubs across England – find them 😗 here – and there is a squash finder here.
What more could you need?5.Kabaddi
Why should I take it up?
Because it's something 😗 a bit different – and is extremely popular in South-East Asia.
It's good if you're looking to push yourself because it's 😗 highly physical endurance sport – it's quite similar to wrestling – and is played over a 45-minute stretch.
It involves everything 😗 from running, kicking and dodging opponents.
But it's also good if you're into yoga, as players control their mind and body 😗 through self-control and concentration.
A unique combination, right?
Where can I try it out?
While the sport is having a bit of a 😗 resurgence worldwide, it's still not very well known outside South Asia.
However, lots of unis now have teams and there's the 😗 England Kabaddi Federation UK – useful for finding clubs.
There aren't loads in the UK yet but it definitely appears to 😗 be growing.
6.Urban golf
Why should I take it up?
Potentially *slightly* questionable whether playing with state-of-the-art simulators is a sport per se, 😗 but we're going with it.
It's a great way to improve your game and your swing without having to practise on 😗 freezing cold golf courses, many of which could be closed at times during winter anyway.
Plus, there's no chance of lost 😗 balls.
Where can I try it out?
Admittedly, urban golf appears to be a bit of a London-centric sport – there are 😗 places such as the Soho Golf & Country Club or Royal Smithfield, or City Golf & Sports Bar also has 😗 six simulators, featuring more than 50 of the world's best golf courses to try.
Or, you're technically still indoors with these 😗 golf ranges where you hit the balls from under a cover.
.
.
.
right? Yep, for a non-simulator but still much warmer option 😗 than playing on a 18-hole course, there's Top Golf – like golf, but better.
We're talking fire lamps, cocktails and food 😗 with friends at the same time as swinging your clubs.
Top Golf started in the US and centres are few and 😗 far between in the UK – but can be found in Watford, Chigwell and Surrey, with one coming up in 😗 Birmingham.
7.Dodgeball
Why should I take it up?
First up, this team sport has gotta be a pretty good stress-buster – you are 😗 literally hitting people in the face with balls.
It's also a great way of reliving some childhood fun, improves strength training 😗 because you've got to throw balls a pretty long way which works shoulders, back, abs and arms, and the longer 😗 you avoid getting hit and stay on the floor, the more calories you'll burn.
Where can I try it out?
Go Mammoth 😗 has London's biggest dodgeball leagues.
Elsewhere in the country, the UK Dodgeball association has deets on how to get involved with 😗 affiliated clubs and on player memberships.
8.Ping pong
Why should I take it up?
Come the summer, you might well be one of 😗 those who loves picking up a tennis racquet and pretending you're living that Wimbledon life.
But in winter on cold, grey 😗 days, ping pong could be the answer.
It's great for upping those pesky concentration levels, plus you're guaranteed some lols because, 😗 let's face it, unless you're the Andy Murray of the ping pong world, this sport takes practice.
Where can I try 😗 it out?
Another big selling point for trying ping pong out? You don't have to play it at some boring sports 😗 centre (soz) – how about checking out ping pong bars, such as Bounce in London, Kosmonaut in Manchester or Das 😗 Kino in Nottingham? If you prefer your exercise without the temptation of alcohol, there's info here on how to find 😗 out more about social ping pong in your area – it's thriving in all sorts of places right now.
9.Climbing
Why should 😗 I take it up?
Obviously, it can be done outdoors for a potentially much better view but indoor climbing is a 😗 great way to get into a physically demanding sport which will work your upper body strength no end.
Try bouldering, which 😗 is ropeless climbing at low heights, often above safety mats, if you're feeling a bit nervous about the whole situ.
You 😗 don't need to be super fit to rock climb – physical strength is way more important – and, as with 😗 all sports, the more you do it the fitter you'll become.
Mind you, you've gotta be pretty patient for this sport, 😗 as you take time to work out your ascents.
Where can I try it out?
A lot of indoor climbing is about 😗 your footwork and body positioning, which you can perfect with the help of instructors found at most climbing centres.
You can 😗 a find a wall near you on the British Mountaineering Council website and many will have introductory sessions.
You can also 😗 use the Climb Buddy app to find a climbing partner or meet other climbers near you.
10.Boxing
Why should I take it 😗 up?
Firstly, you'll look darn tough and cool in a pair of boxing gloves.
Secondly, it's great for total-body strength.
During a workout, 😗 you might punch a bag hundreds of times and that will work your core, too.
It's obviously great for your mental 😗 health, because it's so high intensity which reduces stress and it's also v empowering.
Fed up of work? Take it all 😗 out on the bag.
Annoyed at your partner? Take it out on the bag.
.
.
you get the picture.
Where can I try 😗 it out?
Boxing gyms will have memberships available but maybe boxing fitness classes are the way to go.
Check out your local 😗 gyms or fitness studios but this website may also be worth a look to search for a Boxercise instructor.
11.Powerlifting
Why should 😗 I take it up?
Because the whole strongnotskinny thing is big right now.
And if weightlifting, which uses overhead movements, seems a 😗 bit daunting, powerlifting might be the option for you.
It uses heavy weights but you'll only do squats, bench presses and 😗 deadlifts.
It allows you to build muscle and burn fat and you'll feel great the bigger weights you are able to 😗 lift.
However, there's no pressure to become a powerlifting champion – just give it a go to see if it's a 😗 way of getting fitter that could work for you.
Where can I try it out?
Most gyms tend to have free weights 😗 sections and you could ask a trainer there to show you the right techniques and maybe help build you a 😗 schedule for exercises.
But, as with all the other sports on this list, there's also an official website with a listing 😗 of approved clubs.
12.Volleyball
Why should I take it up?
OK, so it might be a bit more appealing on a beach somewhere, 😗 but indoor volleyball still has all the same benefits – you'll seriously tone up and because you'll serve, pass, block 😗 and attack the ball, you'll constantly get your heart rate going.
Plus, it's a really social sport, and great if you're 😗 up for a laugh with a team.
Where can I try it out?
This club finder has got your back.
And on that 😗 note, you now officially have no excuse not to get into an indoor sport.
