Which activities can you take up/learn as an (unco-ordinated, out of shape, short of time) adult.

[Rugbylovingmum]

I know this might seem like an odd question but I have always loved studying and learning something new (bit of a geek). I was watching DD1 doing her dance and gymnastics lessons and felt a bit envious. She is learning new skills and challenging herself and having tons of fun while being active. It started me thinking that I'd love to try a new sport/activity and get back into shape while learning to do something new. I'm not good at exercising just to stay fit - No motivation. I hate the gym although I quite enjoyed body pump. I've started running and enjoy the me time and feeling fitter but I don't love it. In my twenties I took up rugby and loved it. Lots of women start later so it's not a problem if you haven't played before (I found with hockey and netball people had played for years and the clubs were ultra competitive). We moved just before DDs arrived and I didn't like the local club plus they train and play on weekends so no good with a young family.

Have any of you taken up a new form of exercise in late thirties/forties and can recommend it. I'm very unco-ordinated so dance etc prob not for me, I don't have much free time (work 3 nights a week) so team sports may be tricky and I don't have the money for ski-ing, riding etc. I did lots of martial arts in my teens which I enjoyed but would prefer something new. Really I'd love an adult gymnastics class even though I'm clearly not in good enough shape for that even if there was one here. I've thought about everything from climbing to Pilates but I can't decide. Any thoughts???

Thanks xx

[pootlebug]

I took up triathlon last year age 37. I love the mix of disciplines, the variety of enthusiastic people at races (from beginners to super serious), the buzz of finishing. there are clubs if you want to train with others but you can equally well not. the downside is that it can take up more time doing 3 sports

[Rugbylovingmum]

Thanks pootlebug, I have thought about triathlon but I'm a very slow runner, very slow cyclist and just okay in the water. I'm not sure where to start and I imagined plugging away at all 3 on my own but taking forever to get to the stage where I felt I could try an event. Maybe if I took swimming lessons so I could see some improvement it would be fun. I feel odd joining a triathlon club when I'm rubbish at all 3 sports - worried I'd be laughed out of the club . Swimming (and maybe diving lessons) could be fun though, I can swim but my technique is rubbish so I'm not quick.

Maybe I'm having a mid-life crisis but I fancy doing something a bit scary and out of my comfort zone like diving or climbing. Quite fancy ice skating too but the nearest rink is an hour away and I'd have to take DD1 too or she'd disown me!

[Rugbylovingmum]

Sorry, really rambling on this evening

[Haggisfish]

Kayaking is great and quite easy to learn. Rock climbing/abseiling/canyoning all easy to do with instructors -try an activity weekend to see if you like any of it. Paddle boarding is my aim!

[Rugbylovingmum]

I did a few abseiling/kayaking/canyoning weekends when I was younger and really enjoyed them. I'll def look into them. I guess kayaking or climbing would be the easiest to do regularly. I think they run courses on the climbing wall at the council sport centre. Thanks!

[Sycamoretrees]

Sailing - great fun and very social.

[EduCated]

Are you positive there's no adult gymnastics class? I was surprised to find a adult beginners tumbling class near me.

Now I'm just trying to work up the courage to find out about actually going...

[EduCated]

Or how about ballroom dancing?

[Happypiglet]

Surfing? Tried it in an indoor place (we live miles from the sea) and then also in Cornwall... It makes me feel like a 20something cool chick rather than the 44 year old frump I actually am

[VirtualPointyHat]

I took up ballet as a complete beginner last year, I love it

[hazelnutlatte]

If gymnastics appeals then how about yoga? Ashtanga yoga is quite athletic (we do handstands etc in our class) and not at all like the traditional 'lie down and breathe' yoga class many people imagine. The other advantage to yoga is that there will probably be loads of classes local to you so you should find one to suit you.

[PitchSlapped]

The more you dance the more coordinated you will become. Im a bit younger than you but i started ballroom dancing 3 years ago and used to think i had 2 left feet but i dont anymore, now im not a bad dancer! Im going to look at pole fitness soon as well, that might be worth a go? I think it can be expensive but is very challenging

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Parkour? I'm unfit middle aged and overweight and I just work at my own level.
Or how about circusy stuff like trapeze, or hanging from silks etc?

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I went to my first ever ballet class last week (aged 47, poorly coordinated and several stone overweight) and really enjoyed it, I do pilates regularly which uses a lot of the same principles. I've also found that with a bit of organisation I can fit in a lunchtime swim a couple of days a week (keep my bag permanently packed and well organised so I can wash hair etc v. quickly at the end).

My suggestion would be to wander round your local sports centre looking at ALL the noticeboards, not just the one in the foyer. Ours has got boards all over the place advertising everything from canoeing to juggling clubs.

[Rugbylovingmum]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I will look into them all.

I have problems picturing myself as a dancer. I'm quite self conscious and more of a rugby player than a ballerina. What kinds of things do you do in your ballet lesson - my only experience of ballet is my daughter skipping around in a tiara and pink tutu to the frozen soundtrack in her class. Lots of running on tiptoes and fairy arms.

What is parkour? I can't find any gymnastic/tumbling/trampolining classes for adults but will keep looking.

Ashtanga yoga sounds good too - is it the sort of thing you can do at home with a DVD until the hols when I'll have more time for classes?

I LOVE the idea of surfing but I didn't know you could do it indoor (or if you are unfit).

I'm in York if anyone can recommend a specific class/group.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

The ballet class consisted mostly of standing at the barre doing leg exercises, with some exercises away from the barre doing arm exercises, moving through the various positions. Lots of feet turned out and pointy toes. Just to watch it would have looked easy, but you need to get your posture just right and use your core muscles strongly to hold yourself in the correct positions, tiny changes in the position of a foot make a big difference. It was the first in a series of beginners classes.

I'm not a dancer either, two left feet, always find my weight is on the wrong foot in step classes etc, but hoping this will improve things.

We have indoor surfing at Airkix near us.

[slug]

Have you considered swing dancing or rock and roll dancing? It's not as precise as ballet, there's lots of room for being enthusiastic but clumsy, and there's quite a scene at the moment

[Usernamegone]

I'm very unco-ordinated so can't cope with aerobics, etc. I go to BMF which is basically running around outdoors in a park getting muddy doing press ups, sit ups, burpees, etc. I then do obstacle course races just for fun

[Skinheadmermaid]

Martial arts?
Theres all sorts of different ones, from grappling to kung fu to straight forward boxing.
Its definitely a skill, especially kung fu (of which there are many types) where there are a lot of katas to learn and mental discipline as much as physical discipline is taught.

[BlueChampagne]

I started running at 40. Otherwise, how about rowing?

[Rugbylovingmum]

Thanks again for all the suggestions. Rowing always looks fun but I detest early mornings and got fed up of being cold when I did a bit of sailing at university (I don't mind running around in the cold, it was getting the boat in and out of the water when freezing I objected to). Plus I am so busy at the moment (full time mum, work 3 nights a week and often tutor 2-3 times a week on top of that) I don't want to do anything where people are relying on me turning up.

I wasn't thinking about martial arts as I've done kickboxing in the past and wanted to try something new but, as you point out, there are lots of different types. Besides it really it was a very very very long time ago so I won't remember any of it! I'll addd it to the list.

Sorry but BMF doesn't look like my type of thing - exercise for the sake of exercise with no other motivation/distraction. Wish I was motivated enough because I know it's great but I'm not. If a group of friends were going it would be different but I only know a couple of people who go and they are seriously fit so I couldn't keep up.

[Rugbylovingmum]

I do run and am doing Edinburgh half in May then GNR in Sept which I'm really looking forward to but wanted something else too.

[CMOTDibbler]

I'd try cycling then - I like the companionship thats possible on a club ride (I go on the C ride, which is 40 miles with a cake stop), but equally you can go on your own or with family and you do get faster quickly.

I've done a couple of triathlons this year, and though I'm a v slow swimmer (as I only use one arm) it was still fun and gave me a focus. With pool based triathlon you start at intervals so its not a mad start.

[foreverlexicon]

I took up pole dancing and aerial silks and I'm an addict now! So much fun and it's really toned me up

[EdithDickie]

I did indoor climbing for a while a few years ago. Really good, strength and flexibility, different levels to work at etc.