Fun activities provide effective workouts

As the weather gets cooler, the clothes get layered. But this season, showing some skin can heat up conventional workouts.

Dance has become increasingly popular among college students. Brazilian Zumba, striptease, belly dancing and pole dancing are sexy ways to burn calories and build muscle.

“Whether it’s for someone special or just for you, its fun to feel sexy,” says Allie Frosh adding, “and dancing doesn’t feel like a workout until the next day when you can’t walk.”
Striptease, in spite of its name, does not require the removal of any clothing. It is simply a sexed-up version of jazz dance combined with strength training through “bondage.”

Frosh says that striptease classes are challenging and by the end of class you pretty much have stripped down because you work up such a sweat.

 Zumba is a high energy combination of Brazilian based dances. It’s choreography gets participants to shake, swivel and swing their hips.

“It’s a heck of a lot more fun than running on a treadmill, and before you know it the hour is up,” said Lisa Abraham.

“During the winter, especially, we feel like we can justify not working out as much because we’re going to be wearing a sweatshirt all day anyways,” says Frosh. “So being in a studio where you take off the layers reminds you that you can’t hide the excess hot chocolate for long.”

Abby Bella Dance Studio, in Scottsdale, offers Zumba, striptease, belly dancing, jazz hip hop, ballet and a list of other dance based workouts.

Kate Psyk doesn’t like being enclosed in a box full of cardio equiptment and intimidating weights. So instead she takes her workouts to new heights at AZ on the Rocks.

“The rock gym is more of a fun activity,” Psyk says. “Even though I know I’m harnessed, strategically climbing the harder walls gives me an adrenaline rush which hopefully gives me a better workout.”

AZ on the Rocks is a 14,000 sq. ft. indoor rock-climbing gym located in north Scottsdale.

“It’s a great full body workout, and they have various skill level walls available,” says Psyk.

“I’d much rather challenge myself and gain the satisfaction of getting to the top of a rock wall then be stuck on a stationary bike.”

Jeff Hamnett says when the weather cools off, his entire lifestyle changes because his workouts are not confined to a gym.

In addition to plyometrics, he runs about five miles around Scottsdale Healthcare and Shea Belt a few times a week.

Plyometric workouts are popular among athletes looking to build speed, agility and muscle. This kind of workout involves sprints and jumps that help Hamnett prepare for his weekend basketball league games.

“The nice thing about ‘Plyo’ is that you can do it anywhere, really, and it doesn’t cost anything,” says Hamnett.

In Catherine Love’s opinion, the worst thing about the gym is that it is inside. She says she would rather hike, jog, play sports, walk her dog, or bike ride at places like Chaparral Park.
Chaparral Park is minutes away from SCC. The park has two grass volleyball courts, a basketball court, a 100-acre park to jog, bike, or walk around, a 10-acre lake to fish in, and four ramadas to relax under.