The Best Freestyle Sports to Keep You Healthy

If you’re looking for a new sporting challenge to help you get fit but don’t like the idea of becoming part of a formal team where you can occupy only a single position or have to conform to strict conventions, the world of freestyle sports may appeal. Such activities allow you to gain all the health and fitness benefits of traditional sports but also provide a sense of independence in which you can quite literally do your own thing. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Freestyle soccer

Although freestyle soccer doesn’t involve running up and down a pitch for up to 90 minutes at a time, it still requires a high level of fitness. The key reason for this is that developing the necessary skills to the right level takes many hours of practice.

Leading practitioners of the sport such as Lisa Zimouche rehearse their moves for at least two hours each day and part of their training will involve short, intense bursts of physical activity that are perfect for boosting cardiovascular and muscular fitness. While existing professionals may be able to get to grips with freestyle soccer quicker than others, newbies will need to dedicate a lot of time and effort if this is the freestyle sport for them.

Freestyle scootering

The best way to develop your freestyle skills it to have your scooter with you as much as possible, and to ride at every possible opportunity. Those who are already professional skateboarders or BMXers may be able to transition their existing skills to scootering, however, if you’re new to this, then you’ll want to invest in a quality scooter. Of course, if you’re already a scootering athlete who is looking in increase their scootering game, then treating yourself to a professional scooter could persuade you to spend more time outside, practicing.

If you want to get the maximum health benefits out of freestyle scootering, you’ll need to make sure your equipment is capable of working just as hard as you do. Ethic Scooters, a relative newcomer to the stunt scene, are quickly carving out a reputation for creating sleek-looking, high-quality products at reasonable prices. You can browse through a wide range of available models at Skates.co.uk.

Freestyle skiing

Freestyle skiing is a demanding sport that requires a solid and dedicated training regime for anyone wanting to take part, especially if they want to do so competitively. Many of those involved in the sport use intense circuit training to get their bodies into the right condition.

Cycling through exercises such as goblet squats, dumbbell chest presses, crunches, push-ups, sit-ups and pull-ups work the entire body and provide the necessary strength and stamina to make it possible to perform advanced tricks. Dedication is key. In the space of nine months, Gold medallist Hannah Kearney completed more than 450 gruelling training sessions including hours of running, cycling and weight training in order to reach top form.

Freestyle dancing

Freestyle dancing is a great all round aerobic exercise that works your muscles, gets your heart pumping and makes you breathe faster. If you have a spare room you can even put down a marley dance floor. You not only tone your muscles, improve coordination and balance, but you also burn a fair amount of calories. With its focus on vigorous movements rather than less dynamic steps, freestyle dance can actually provide a more effective workout.

In common with other forms of freestyle activity, this kind of dancing can also benefit your mental health. According to Richard Powers, a dance professor at Stanford University, when dancing freestyle, you use up more brain power as you have to make rapid decision about what your next move will be, rather than following a series of predetermined steps. This kind of thinking has been shown to substantially reduce the risk of developing dementia.