The Schoolyard Workout - How Kids' Games Can Inspire a Fun Exercise Session

A schoolyard workout can bring out the kid in you, while giving you the heart-healthy exercise that's an important part of adult life. If you've ever watched a bunch of kids playing in the schoolyard, you'll see that they are constantly in motion. That means they're constantly burning calories, strengthening muscle, and building endurance. You can get all these benefits, and have some serious fun, by using your favorite childhood games as inspiration for a playful schoolyard workout. Read on to learn how you can use kid-friendly moves like the hokey pokey as the basis for a fun workout session.

The Hokey Pokey
Warm Up And Cool Down By Shaking It All Around

Doing the hokey pokey isn't going to give you the buff body of an Olympian, but it makes an ideal warm up for your schoolyard workout. The hokey pokey gently raises your heart rate, and the movements of the dance will get blood flowing to all your extremities. Plus, the hokey pokey will get you in the right mindset. Think back to your own days of afternoon recess: chances are, you weren't thinking about health or weight loss, you were just having a good time. Starting your schoolyard workout with the hokey pokey will make it easier to throw off the cares and worries of your day so that you can focus on playing and having fun. You can also try the hokey pokey as a cool down routine: finishing your workout with a quick "shake it all about" will lift your mood as you celebrate a job well done.

Tip: Warming up with a few bouts of the hokey pokey before you get into more strenuous activities helps protect your muscles against injury or strain.

Hopscotch
A Lighthearted Session Of Serious Cardio