Often the hardest part of any new exercise routine is knowing where to start. What kind of workout is right for me? What activities should I do to reach my health goals? The first thought may be to sign up for a gym membership just to at least have a building where you know you’ll do your exercise. While this is certainly fine and encouraged (shout out to Crunch in Daytona Beach for my membership that needs to be used more often!), there are a lot of creative exercise options around town that you may not have considered as you work towards a healthier you!
The most chill of the local exercise opportunities I have taken recently is, “Moves and Brews” yoga and beer at Dunes Brewing (59 Dunlawton Ave., Port Orange). Dr. Sandi from Oceanic Yoga & Wellness leads the class in an hour-long Yin-inspired yoga class. These poses are gentle on your joints and body as you stretch and relax. Class sizes are kept small by pre-registering so you can feel confident even if you’re fairly new to yoga like I am! After yoga, you can choose the beer, cider or sour that you would like to enjoy. I’m partial to the later mentioned fruity sours! The cost is $18 when you register on BeachMeetsWellness.com and it includes both the yoga class and drink afterwards.
Working our way up in intensity, Pictona (1060 Ridgewood Ave., Holly Hill) is home to pickleball in the Daytona Beach area. Pickleball is said to be the fastest growing sport in America and this newer 49-court facility is already known for holding top-tier tournaments! If you have never played before or need a refresher, you can sign up for the free, “PB 101” class by registering on Pictona.org or calling the Welcome Desk at 386- 310-7067. It’s about an hour-long class with a skilled instructor and the equipment you’ll need to play: a paddle and ball. If you decide you like the game, you can sign up for a Pictona membership to join their leagues or open play. I took the class a while back with a friend and have found several city parks that have pickleball courts to play on, such as the Schnebly Rec Center in Daytona (1101 N. Atlantic Ave.) and Central Park in Ormond (off of Hammock Lane).
While the phrase, “go for a run” still strikes fear in my heart from playing soccer through college, I do appreciate the fun and community that The Running Elements in Daytona Beach (260 Daytona Blvd., D410) adds to their runs! The Running Elements (TRE) hosts wellness walks at the Riverfront Esplanade in Daytona each month and my whole household joined their holiday walk/run through the lights there back in December. My housemate often attends the, “TRE Run Club” on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. as runners and walkers make their way around OneDaytona. I honestly think the hardest part of running is getting stuck in your head and feeling alone, so it is such a great resource to be able to go with friends to cheer you on!
Whatever your preferred activity or sport, the goal is to get your heart pumping! Exercise does not have to be tied to weight loss or body image, it can just be to grow your overall health and be a fun way to connect with family and friends. Now… go break a sweat!
