Different Ways to Stay Active Without a Gym Membership

For when the gym just isn’t for you 💪

We get it, the gym isn’t for everyone. It’s loud, bright and can sometimes be really busy. Plus, when you’re just starting to work out or go to a gym for the first time, it can feel super intimidating and overwhelming.

Not to mention that a gym membership can get pretty pricey. Thankfully, there are plenty of fun ways to stay active that don’t involve trying to find the exercise machine you’re looking for.

You can also pair these activities with a gym workout routine, just remember to not overexert yourself and take breaks or rest days whenever you need.

Run, walk, swim or cycle.

These are the easiest ways to get in some cardio in a way that’s not super straining on your body and can be done either for free or pretty cheap.

You can look up running, walking or cycling routes in the area you live in to get a pre-planned route or just simply go outside and take a stroll around the area you live in.

Bonus points if you put it on Strava 😉

Plus, there are heaps of free community run clubs or groups so you can meet new people and be more motivated to stay active.

Check out Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree for cheap bikes that are normally still in great condition.

If cycling isn’t your thing, head down to your local public pool and pay for a day pass or inquire about buying multiple passes at once (most pools will have a discount).

Learn a new type of dance or skill.

Live out your cirque du soleil fantasy and sign up for a class that pushes you out of your comfort zone.

Why not try taking an aerial or beginner’s gymnastics class?

Or, if you’re in the mood for something more difficult why not try calisthenics?

It’s a great way to improve your flexibility as well as your physical and mental strength. If flexibility isn’t your goal, try learning a new type of dance in a class.

Try something like ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, learn to dance in heels or try a jazz dancing class.

You can always bring a friend along if going alone is too intimidating.

And remember, if it’s not for you then at least you tried it! And you don’t have to keep going.

Hit up a pilates or yoga class.

This is another way to stay fit without straining your body too much. Starting pilates is a great, easy way to stay active and continually grow your strength and flexibility at your own pace.

You can find heaps of pilates classes available to you in your area, some might offer one-time classes or there may even be pilates reformer machines available at your local gym.

If you’re keen for something that’s a bit slower paced, yoga is the way to go.

Unless you want to try something like hot yoga – which I’ve never tried but personally stretching while drenched in sweat is not my idea of a fun workout.

You don’t even have to go to a class to actually do yoga or pilates.

Simply buy a yoga mat, look up a tutorial on YouTube and get started. There are heaps of free classes available that you can follow along with online, ranging from beginner to expert.

Exercise at home.

Skip the trip to the gym and workout from home.

If you’re short on time but want a workout that’ll make an impact – try HIIT workouts (High Intensity Interval Training). HIIT involves short intervals of intense activity followed by brief rests before starting again.

You can search YouTube for plenty of free workouts to follow along with.

Also, another great way to work out from home is stretching. Whether you work an office job, stand all day or just fall into the habit of not moving enough – stretching is great for blood flow, flexibility and to ease stiffness.

Stretching also helps you relax and just feel better overall. The best part? You don’t need fancy equipment or a membership, just a quiet space and a few minutes to unwind.

You can also purchase small weights like dumbbells online to train with and push yourself a bit further.

Go indoor rock climbing, bouldering or trampolining.

Okay, we know that this has probably been all over your explore page or for you page as some point but honestly, it lives up to the hype.

Rock climbing and bouldering are two really fun ways of building strength and challenging yourself.

You can develop better hand, feet and eye coordination through climbing with heaps of indoor climbing centres available.

Bouldering can be a bit more difficult to get into so if you’re still a beginner and don’t want to hurt yourself too quickly, try rock climbing.

Bouldering is still really fun but be warned, your entire body will be very sore for a few days afterwards.

Want a more fun way to stay active that makes you feel like a kid again? Try indoor trampolining. 

It's beginner friendly, super fun and exhilirating at the same time allowing you to be active while jumping and trying out new tricks.

Check out large trampoline parks like BOUNCE or Flip Out. 

Grab some friends and make a day (or night) out of it!

Getting active doesn’t have to just be about lifting weights in a gym. There’s so many more ways to stay mentally and physically healthy that won’t break the bank or feel super intimidating.