Which sport would you do?

lexgem
lexgem Posts: 163
edited October 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm a student and I've been looking at the various sports I can do at university this year. There are 3 I'd like to try:
Swimming
Capoeira
Yoga

All 3 classes are 1h30 per week.
So far my exercise routine looks like at least 30 minutes of walking every day (I have a dog and use public transportation), I'm starting ripped in 30 and aim for 5 days a week, I play just dance 2 whenever I want to do something more "fun" and I jog or use the elliptical sometimes instead of a Jillian workout. I really don't see myself doing all 3. Here are my concerns for each:

yoga: I am not flexible and have never tried it and I'm afraid I'll be terrible
capoeira: looks very cool but I'm afraid I'll be in a class with really good people (there are only 2 levels: competition and "other") and feel the way I did in high school sports
swimming: I know I like swimming but I did it twice a week with a teacher in high school as an optional sport and while I enjoyed it, even after a year twice a week every week I still was the slowest and not very good at it.

I'm so afraid of being teased and told I'm no good :( I even had a gym trial a few months ago and the trainer made fun of me because I was terrible at weights and acted all surprised when I was doing well on the treadmill. I chose to work out from home/on my own instead because I have pretty deep-rooted issues with others making fun of my abilities. I will never be an athlete but I do want to be in decent shape.
Should I just keep doing what I'm doing or try a class?

Replies

  • chicago_dad
    chicago_dad Posts: 357
    swimming = best exercise, and now you can listen to music while you swim with something like this:

    http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&safe=off&nord=1&q=swimp3&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.&ion=1&biw=1477&bih=888&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=1135782134516569110&sa=X&ei=gD9hTpPiEeOysAKKrdgz&ved=0CGcQ8wIwAQ
  • voluptas63
    voluptas63 Posts: 602 Member
    I'm a swimmer and personally, I push anybody to swim. Swimming is a life long activity. You don't find many 100yr olds running, but they can surely swim! It's good for the joints and body:)
  • sc1572
    sc1572 Posts: 2,309 Member
    swim!!!
  • DestinyDarbi
    DestinyDarbi Posts: 260 Member
    Yoga... I did it a few years ago. I was TERRIBLE! LOL But the instructor was so nice, and everyone else in there was too. I don't think anyone is good at yoga to start out with! There's my 2 cents!
  • Egger29
    Egger29 Posts: 14,741 Member
    I would go for Capoeira. With any martial art, EVERYONE istarts off as a beginner so everyone in the class knows what the first day is like.

    They style takes alot of practice to perfect and is a great workout challenging your body to do more things than you normally would demand of it, not to mention the addition of strength and core stability that goes along with the forms.

    With anything, practice makes perfect and no one will expect you to be amazing on the first day. You do what you can and before you know it, you'll be the one showing the next group of beginners how to do the movements.

    I have my black belt in Kuk Sool Won, but I'll never forget my first day of coming into the class not knowing a single thing. Was one of THE most encouraging and welcoming experiences in my entire life.

    Sorry to hear you had such a dismal experience with the PT at the gym. It make me really sad to see things like that.

    Cheers!
  • mamaredhead
    mamaredhead Posts: 112
    I'd definitely do YOGA!!!!

    It not only makes your body more and more flexible, it also has a great impact on developing a positive mind set. You will soon feel very comfortable and very "at home" within yourself -- that's how it was for me. And I left every yoga-class with not only having improved my postures and movements a little (or a lot!) but also with a new thought or a new twist in my view on myself and the world around me.

    Do yoga. It somehow makes us be ... better people :-))))

    Good luck! You'll make the decision that's just right for yourself!
  • dakmom
    dakmom Posts: 18 Member
    I guess I'll be the odd man out and say yoga. I've been taking yoga classes for the last year and went into the class looking like a tree stump and had the flexibility of one too. I have to admit that I was a bit intimidated by all the ultra thin bendable yogis in the class because I was usually the largest one in the class. But, the students and teacher all made me feel welcome. What's great about yoga, is you go at your own pace and there are variations to every pose so you can gradually see progress as you get better through practice. Shame on those people who made fun of you for working out, and just make sure you hold your head up high and give it all you've got! They won't be laughing anymore! You can do it and good luck with whatever you decide!
  • kasmir8199
    kasmir8199 Posts: 507 Member
    I would choose Capoeira...mainly because I've been wanting to train in that style for ages, but it's not openly taught here. Students can take it here at UGA (I graduated 8 years ago, lol).

    Any martial art would be good. I've tried a lot, but my passion is in muay thai. Maybe you can consider than one? :) You might love it!
  • akaChuck
    akaChuck Posts: 233 Member
    I'd go with either swimming or yoga..in that order.
  • lexgem
    lexgem Posts: 163
    I would go for Capoeira. With any martial art, EVERYONE istarts off as a beginner so everyone in the class knows what the first day is like.

    They style takes alot of practice to perfect and is a great workout challenging your body to do more things than you normally would demand of it, not to mention the addition of strength and core stability that goes along with the forms.

    With anything, practice makes perfect and no one will expect you to be amazing on the first day. You do what you can and before you know it, you'll be the one showing the next group of beginners how to do the movements.

    I have my black belt in Kuk Sool Won, but I'll never forget my first day of coming into the class not knowing a single thing. Was one of THE most encouraging and welcoming experiences in my entire life.

    Sorry to hear you had such a dismal experience with the PT at the gym. It make me really sad to see things like that.

    Cheers!

    I think I will go with capoeira for this reason. I hadn't thought of it that way, that everyone will be beginners or remembers being a beginner (not so much with swimming!). I also have never tried any martial arts and I think it's good to try new things :)
    If I end up not enjoying it I can always do something different next semester.
    I can also go to the pool and swim laps on my own, I can't learn capoeira on my own.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories