With prom just around the corner, many high school students are adopting an active lifestyle. To many, belonging to a gym and sticking to a routine is a necessary part of looking their best in their prom dresses. For some high school girls, working out in a gym can be intimidating. Whether it’s the pressure of being around other people or paying for a gym membership simply isn’t in your budget, there are plenty of alternative ways to get your body toned and fit for prom without having to go to a gym.
- From a scenic hike to a brisk stride through your neighborhood, walking is a great way to get your blood circulating. Walking offers your body a number of health benefits like strengthening your bones and muscles, improving your balance and coordination, and preventing things like diabetes and heart disease. Incorporate a 30-60 minute walk into your after school routine in the weeks leading up to prom to look and feel your best.
- Golfing. Contrary to popular belief, golf is a moderate form of exercise! The best part? It doesn’t require you to have any experience in the fitness world. In addition to working your core, golf is a great stress reliever. Swinging a golf club is minor strength training for your arms and shoulders while walking through the hills and valleys works the muscles in your quads and hamstrings. If you’re planning to wear a backless or strapless dress to prom, take part in your school’s golf club, play with a relative, or head to the mini-golf course with your friends to start toning your arms and shoulders.
- Bicycling. Riding a bike is a great way to work low-impact cardio into your routine. If you live in an area where the weather is mild all year round, you can incorporate bicycling into your daily routine. Using your bike to get to and from school or riding to your friend’s house on the weekend can subtly add a healthy activity into your daily life and get your legs toned for prom.
- Tennis. Like golf, tennis turns physical activity into something more fun and interactive. Whether you join a school team or sign up to play in an after-school league at your community center, find a few friends to play with each week, or even play by yourself, tennis is an excellent form of cardio as well as a good workout for your muscles and bones.
- Pilates. From your backyard to the office, you can virtually do Pilates anywhere. All you need is an open space and a Wifi connection. Search YouTube for hundreds of videos to guide you through a quick workout that will feel more like a meditation session.
- HIIT Workouts. You don’t need gym equipment to achieve a good HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workout. Look up a circuit on YouTube or create a sequence of moves on your own to get the job done. You can also find a ton of workout videos on social platforms like Facebook and Instagram. To begin, try four moves done for 30 seconds each with 30 seconds of rest time in between. Repeat the cycle two to three more times. Switching the moves up between cardio and strength training makes the most out of your workout. For example, try a sequence of running with high knees, burpees, squat pulses, and mountain climbers.
You don’t need a gym membership to stay fit! There are plenty of exercises you can do in the comfort of your own living room, office, or backyard. Try these alternatives to a gym membership to achieve your goals for prom.