With the weather still very nice and some restrictions eased, this is probably the best time to go beyond training and play sports to keep your lifestyle active, fun and interesting. A 1993 study published in the Sports Behavior Magazine compared differences in motivation for sport and exercise. The researchers found that people who play sports are motivated by “interest/enjoyment and competition motivation, while people who engage in physical activity are motivated by body-related motivation.”
The American Psychological Association also notes that regular physical activity reduces “the risk of developing high blood pressure, heart disease, colon cancer, or diabetes” and also reduces “stress, anxiety, and depression.” Here are four sports that are great exercise while adding the element of competition, camaraderie, and social interaction while also ensuring your safety when played outdoors.
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Football: No matter what time of year it is or what the weather is like, it’s the right time to play football. Thanks to turfs popping up across the country, there is no longer a need to expose yourself to potential injuries like sprained ankles and broken knees due to poor grounds while playing this beautiful game. Although India does not rank high in the world football rankings, the popularity of the sport is constantly growing and more and more people are playing it and veteran players are returning to the game because it gives them an opportunity to get some exercise while interacting. with others.
Soccer is an excellent anaerobic exercise where you work at a very high intensity in short bursts, says Delhi-based general practitioner Dr. Roonam Patir. “When you play soccer, your body continues to burn fat even after you stop playing. Therefore, it is a good way to burn fat and lose weight. However, if you’re just starting out, it’s a good idea to go slow, otherwise you could get injuries like strains, sprains, and stress fractures,” adds Patir.
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Tennis: Tennis is a tough sport because it requires not only skill with the racket, but also a lot of athleticism to be able to cover the court. Gurugram-based tennis coach Rekibul Hussain says that 4-6 hours of tennis per week is enough to maintain his weight and fitness levels. “Regular tennis also helps keep you mentally fit, strengthens bones and joints, increases energy levels, improves posture, breathing, stamina, immunity and blood flow…Basically, it improves quality of life” , He says. It’s also one of the most socially distanced sports you can play outdoors, since you and your opponent are on two different sides of the court separated by a net.
Rugby: This is not a popular sport yet in India, but more and more young people, especially women, are playing it. The pandemic hit rugby hard in India just as the Indian women’s team had started winning international games, but it is making a comeback. While rugby is definitely a game that involves a lot of intense sprinting in short bursts, it also involves an element of strength as players have to physically tackle, block and stop charging opponents while defending and they need to be strong enough and agile to pass. them or agile and quick enough to slip and slide while on offense. A team game like rugby, where you interact with others, is great for holistic fitness, improving your physical, mental and social health, says former India rugby captain Gautam Dagar. “The competitive element in rugby keeps people interested and engaged better than working out in a gym.”
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Hockey: Hockey is enjoying a hot run in India right now after the men’s team won the bronze medal and the women secured a fourth-place finish and won hearts at the Tokyo Olympics last year. Bengaluru, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, Pune and almost all cities and big towns have grass pitches suitable for hockey, so getting a match is not a problem. Hockey in its current avatar is a fast-paced game with quick turnovers and lung-bursting waves from one end of the field to the other. Like basketball and soccer, it is a high-intensity sport and as well as giving you a good cardiovascular workout, it is also an anaerobic exercise.
Shrenik Avlani is a writer and editor and co-author of The Shivfit Waya book on functional fitness.
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