When the desire to revive your training routine arises, exploring new practices can make all the difference. From pickleball to hula hoop, these five accessible and fun activities focus on pleasure to stay active.
Pickleball
Born in the United States in the 1960s, pickleball is inspired by tennis, badminton and ping-pong. It’s played on a small court, with a rigid racket and a perforated ball, which makes the rallies dynamic without being too physically demanding. Easy to learn and very user-friendly, it appeals to beginners as well as more experienced players of all ages. Its accessible and social side largely explains its success.
Equipment: pickleball racket, perforated ball, net. Shoes with non-slippery soles are suitable for beginners, but shoes for field sports are recommended for regular practice.
Health Benefits
Improves cardiovascular endurance
Develops coordination and reflexes
Low impact on joints
Promotes motivation and socialization
Pickleball can be played both indoors and outdoors, making it accessible year-round. Community centres, gymnasiums, sports complexes and a growing number of tennis clubs are making play spaces available to players. From spring to fall, many municipal parks offer dedicated facilities or shared tennis courts.
Indoor Climbing
Originating from mountaineering, indoor climbing became more popular with the appearance of artificial walls in the 1980s. It consists of climbing courses of varying difficulty, with or without a rope, combining strength, balance and strategy. Suitable for children and adults alike, it attracts those who like progressive challenges and the feeling of surpassing oneself. It is appreciated as much for its playful aspect as for the speed of progress.
Equipment: climbing shoes, harnesses (depending on the type of climb) and chalk, a powder that keeps hands dry and improves grip, also available in liquid form.
Health Benefits
Strengthens all muscles
Improves flexibility and mobility
Develops focus and confidence
Works on global coordination
Indoor climbing is practised mainly in climbing centres designed to accommodate climbers of all levels, with varied and safe routes. Some sports complexes or municipal facilities also offer initiation walls, but specialized establishments remain the reference for a complete practice, accessible all year round, with or without supervision.
Drum Fit
This recent discipline combines physical training and rhythmic percussion. Inspired by cardio classes with music, drum fit offers dynamic sequences where you hit a ball or a surface with sticks, following the tempo. Accessible and energetic, this activity is for those who like to move intensely while letting off steam. Its lively atmosphere quickly makes you forget the effort.
Equipment: drum fit sticks and ball installed on a stable stand (surface or base that absorbs shocks). Wooden spoons or pool noodles, cut to make them shorter, can also be substituted for sticks.
Health Benefits
Promotes sustained calorie expenditure
Improves cardiovascular endurance
Helps reduce stress
Strengthens the upper body and core
Drum fit is offered at select gyms, fitness studios and community centres that offer rhythmic group classes. It can also be practised very well at home, thanks to virtual classes or online videos, with minimal equipment. This flexibility makes it easy to get started, and to adapt the intensity according to your level and the space available.
Aerial Yoga
Appearing in the early 2000s, aerial yoga is a modern variation of traditional yoga influenced by circus arts. The postures, performed using a suspended hammock, support the body and allow for gentle exploration of movements and inversions. This practice is suitable for yoga enthusiasts who want to vary their routines as well as for those looking for a more playful and immersive approach. It’s loved for the feeling of lightness it provides.
Equipment: aerial hammock and yoga mat (for floor transitions).
Health Benefits
Improves flexibility and balance
Relieves spine tension
Strengthens deep muscles
Promotes relaxation and breathing
Aerial yoga is mainly practised in specialized yoga studios and some fitness centres that have adapted facilities. These places offer supervised classes, accessible to both beginners and more experienced practitioners.
Hula Hoop Fitness
Revived after being a huge success in the 1950s, the fitness version of the hula hoop transforms a childhood game into a real physical activity. It consists of rotating a hoop around the body, sometimes integrating choreographed movements to music. It is for those who want to move without pressure while having fun. Its effectiveness often surprises new followers.
Equipment: hula hoop, weighted or unweighted.
Health Benefits
Strengthens abdominal muscles and hips
Improves coordination
Contributes to cardiovascular endurance
Promotes better posture
Since it requires little space and minimal equipment, hula hoop training can be practised in a park as well as in the comfort of your home. It is suitable for both individual sessions and supervised group classes, often choreographed and rhythmic. This great flexibility contributes greatly to the interest it has today.