It is understandable to want to be in shape, to have a fit and healthy appearance. This issue is relevant for both women and men. The first so-called fitness boom dates back to the 1930s at Muscle Beach in Santa Monica. Since then, the city has been considered a sports and healthy lifestyle-oriented city.
I-los-angeles will tell you about the ways how you can always keep yourself in shape without spending money on the gym.
Yoga and meditation
You can meditate or practice yoga not only at home on your own but also with like-minded people. In Los Angeles, for example, Runyon Canyon YOGA offers free classes for residents of the Los Angeles community. An unlimited number of tuition-free classes are available for students and adults. It all started back in 2000. Since then, the park has hosted a year-round yoga class with yoga instructor Daniel Overberger for donations.
Located in Runyon Canyon Park, the organization opens at 5:30 a.m. (7:30 a.m. on weekends) and is open daily until 9:00 p.m. To contact the organization, call +1 213-665-5188. Classes are most often held in the morning, but from Thursday through Sunday, the schedule also includes evening groups.
There are separately identified yoga studios that have a current and complete schedule every day but are based on voluntary donations. There is no fixed fee. Every new participant is welcome here. The entrance to the park is on the Fuller Avenue side.
You can burn from 175 to 300 kcal in an hour of practicing yoga, which is not much, but yoga is a harmony of body and soul.
Hiking
You don’t need to be in good shape or have any training experience to go walking. It is a free and effective way to keep yourself in shape because an hour of slow walking burns up to 300 kcal, but when brisk walking, it’s up to 500 kcal.
- Runyon Canyon and Griffith Park couldn’t be better for a short hike in Los Angeles.
- Another popular and picturesque option is Los Leones Canyon. With company or alone, you can overcome a rugged hike through the Topanga State Park area, with views of the Pacific Ocean along the way.
- Temescal Canyon Gateway Park is great for hiking. There are rest stops during the hike. You will see the ocean, a canyon and even a few waterfalls along the route. You can take a dip in one of them in hot weather if you would like to.
Climbing stairs
An hour of climbing stairs will help you burn about 500 to 700 kcal, which is a good result. In Los Angeles, there is the hidden stairway in Silver Lake, AKA Mattachine Steps. Climbing them will be an effective and energy-consuming workout. This area has over a dozen roads that connect to this stairway.
Another stairway is Los Feliz Heights Steps. It is planted with vines and leads to Griffith Park. You can combine the walk and alternate it with stair climbing for even greater efficiency.
Cycling
All you need to do is take a bicycle rental and ride along any beach in Los Angeles or climb a mountain and see the city from up high. The sunset deserves particular attention.
During a leisurely cycling tour, you can spend from 220 to 250 kcal, but during intensive exercise, from 450 to 500 kcal. The following cycling tours are popular:
- Los Angeles tours, lasting 5 hours
- Beverly Hills tours, lasting 2.5 hours
- Hollywood tours. One such tour takes about 3 hours.
For example, LA Tours provides daily tours of the city. If you don’t want to explore the beauty of Los Angeles alone, you can always go with a group. In addition to a fit, slim body, you will find new friends.
Surfing
One hour of surfing can burn about 400 kcal. Such a type of leisure activity will not only help you lose weight but also make you feel good in your body and keep your balance. Beginners who have never set foot on a board before can try their hand at these places in Los Angeles:
- Campsurf in Manhattan Beach
- Go Surf LA in Santa Monica
- Los Angeles Surf Lessons in Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica and Santa Barbara.
These places gather in small groups. Those who wish can book private surfing lessons at affordable prices.
For those already experienced, there are the beaches of El Porto, Hermosa Beach Pier and Sunset Beach. These places attract a community of local surfers with varying levels of experience.
Climbing
It is a sport for the whole body because, during the workout, you use the muscles in your arms, shoulders, back and legs. In one hour of such a leisure activity, you can burn between 350 and 600 kcal.
Los Angeles has a Rockreation Sports Climbing Center for kids and adults. It’s part of California’s legendary rock climbing history. Single-day passes plus equipment rental discounts are available. At first, in a separate training room, the participant takes a master class, an express rock climbing training.
Bootcamp LA
In Los Angeles, this place is automatically associated with free classes. Workouts include using additional equipment such as fighting ropes, weights, balls, sandbags, etc.
Classes are based on voluntary donations and are held on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm near North Fuller. If such leisure time interests you, it is worth considering a four-week, challenging training program that will test your grit and determination. An excellent physical form will be an additional bonus.
Sports groups
Sometimes you need extra motivation, such as fitness-inspired meet-up groups. Los Angeles has a few interesting suggestions. For example, there is an online forum called Meet-Up, where active people who love fitness can create new groups or join existing ones:
- Morning runners will be interested in the Downtown LA Running Group.
- Those who choose weekend yoga join Yoga at Echo Park (YEP).
- Dancers will be interested in the Los Angeles Salsa Dancing Group.
Some challenging options for keeping yourself in shape in Los Angeles
- Sweat Spa. One of the ways to flush out toxins and lose weight without stress is to visit such a spa. A sweating session lasts 50 minutes, during which the person is wrapped in a heated blanket. You can watch your favorite movies or TV series during this time and burn up to 1,200 kcal per session. What is even more progressive is available, a spa program with experimental workout options. It involves alternating between an infrared jade sauna and a whole-body vibrating simulator.
- Boxing. Free first classes are available in Los Angeles, such as Wild Card or Foxy Fierce Women’s Kickboxing Bootcamp at Siedo Karate Hollywood Dojo.
- Free outdoor tennis for couples who want to try their hand at a match. It is an option provided by the Studio City Recreation Center in Los Angeles. You can burn between 290 and 420 kcal in an hour of exercise.
Is it easy to be healthy and sporty in Los Angeles?
The city is so diverse and dedicated to a healthy lifestyle that it’s easier to do in Los Angeles than in any other city. It offers a variety of workout options, a vast array of free activities and tips on healthy eating.
So, there are plenty of opportunities for leisure and sports in Los Angeles. You can choose one option or alternate between them to find the one that works best for you. A strong desire and a circle of like-minded people will motivate you to keep in shape. By choosing one of the above options, you will get both.