5 of the Most Fun Ways to Exercise 

The best workouts are those that don’t feel like work at all. If you dread the thought of dragging yourself to the gym to endure another session on the Stair Master, you’re not alone! The truth is, there are plenty of fun ways to exercise, we just have to think outside the box. 

What is the best exercise for someone who hates exercise? Hah! Fun forms of exercise do exist, and we’re here to give you the LOCAL lowdown on some of our favorites! Whether you’re into hiking and all things outdoors, or want to ignite that childlike wonder with ice skating, finding out how to make working out into a game of fun is easier than you think! 

1. Hiking / Walking 

Hiking is just a fancy way to say wandering through the woods. It is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to improve your physical fitness and mental well-being. 

Located near the town of Lake Mills and about 20 miles east of Madison, Wisconsin Skydiving Center is only a 15 minute drive from Aztalan State Park! Our naturally beautiful state is home to FIFTY state parks – you can check them all out on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website. Exploring the area of Wisconsin Dells will leave you in wonder with views of quartz bluffs and waterfalls. And Janesville doesn’t only boast tons of hiking trails, but bicycling trails, too. 

Spending time outdoors and immersed in nature has been shown to reduce stress, lower anxiety, and ultimately improve your mood – this already sounds a bit like the benefits of skydiving! 

2. Ice Skating 

Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee (go Brewers!) has us covered with all of our ice skating needs! 

Ice skating is more than the simple fun of living out your wildest Blades of Glory dreams. It challenges us with a full-body workout and has an immense focus on agility. 

Gliding across the ice works nearly all muscles – including everything in your legs, your entire core, and your arms, which are used for balance. It’s a weight-bearing activity that is easy on the joints – making it pretty perfect for all ages! 

Plus, ice skating can be the gateway to team sports, like ice hockey (which they do have adult leagues for). Imagine finishing up a long week at work, hitting the ice with your pals, going out for some ~adult beverages~, and calling it a night. That sure sounds like a lot more fun than lifting the stones with the gym bros under fluorescent lights, surrounded by mirrors! 

3. Stand-Up Paddleboarding 

Wondering how to workout in a fun way? Go stand-up paddleboarding – SUP. It’s an adventure that doesn’t even feel like a workout. 

SUP is a watersport that has exploded in popularity over the recent years, and for good reason – it’s fun, it keeps you fit, it fosters community, and you can easily do it as a beginner. What makes it so fun? You’re at one with nature! Plus, it’s pretty versatile and can be done on lakes, ponds, the ocean … you name it. 

Stand-up paddleboarding allows you to experience the water from a unique perspective. It’s sneaky, because it comes across as a pretty low-intensity activity (how hard is standing on a board, really?), but it requires a great deal of agility. You use your legs and arms to balance, your core to keep you stabilized, and your shoulders burn to propel you with the paddle. 

Spending a golden hour on the water is second only to spending it in the air (while skydiving!), and soaking it in with your best buds can’t be beaten. Boulder Lake and The Apostle Islands are both local hits in the SUP community. 

4. Pickleball 

Pickleball has become all the rave, and what exactly is it? Think: the perfect combination of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. Pickleball is played with a super lightweight ball, making it much easier on the joints and less aggressive than tennis. 

Although pickleball should technically be played on a regulation-size court, it has gained popularity because it’s pretty easy to do anywhere. Pickleball nets are user-friendly and can be set up in driveways or cul-de-sacs! They retail for around $50 and can be found in virtually every sporting goods store.

If middle-of-the-neighborhood-street pickleball isn’t your jam, then there are plenty of clubs to join – Next Level Pickleball in Appleton and PremierPickleball Club in Milwaukee are two popular nearby spots. 

5. Skydiving 

And our favorite of all exercise ideas? Skydiving!! Skydiving is fantastic for a multitude of reasons, and being a full-body workout is one of them. What? How? Well, skydiving gets our heart rate up (cardio), increases flexibility (stretching), and works nearly all of our muscle groups during freefall and while flying the parachute. Put the dumbbells DOWN and get your skydiving license! 

Skydiver exercise is for mental and physical fitness. Skydiving pushes us to be our best selves, acts as a physical workout, and doubles as a motivator to stay in shape. 

The best way to stay active is to find activities that you enjoy – the ones that make you forget that you’re even working out. Whether it’s hiking through our abundance of parks and preserved land, soaring on the ice or in the sky, floating on the water, or simply hitting a ball back and forth – there are fun ways to exercise all around us. 

Shifting your perspective to do fun activities that also get your body moving is key, which is why we think booking a skydive could be the start to something fantastic — no pressure, but we can’t wait to see you! Blue skies!