National Fitness Day, coming up on May 4th, is dedicated to celebrating and promoting physical fitness and its benefits. Almost all of us could benefit from increasing our fitness, but many people do not know where to start. 

But what can you do if you want to improve your health but exercise is something you dread? Fortunately, keeping fit is not just about hitting the gym or pounding the pavement in your running shoes. There are countless possible activities out there, some of which you may have never even heard of. 

So whether you’re new to fitness or just looking to add something new to your tired old workout routine, we’ve rounded up six quirky and unconventional fitness trends to get you inspired. You never know, one of them may be your new favorite hobby! 

Trampoline Fitness

Remember how much fun it was to jump on a trampoline when you were a kid? Now you can turn that childhood joy into a fantastic workout thanks to trampoline fitness. 

Trampoline fitness classes combine cardio, strength training, and core exercises to create a full-body workout. Trampolining is low-impact, high-energy, and huge fun. You’re guaranteed to leave your class with a smile on your face.

Mini trampolines have also become hugely popular in recent years. They’re small enough to fit in your living room and you can work out while you watch TV! 

Aerial Yoga

The benefits of yoga, from greater physical fitness to better mental health and a clearer mind, are well-documented. You can now take your yoga practice to new heights with aerial yoga.

Aerial yoga combines traditional yoga poses with the aerial arts, using silk fabrics or ropes suspended from the ceiling to help you to form the poses. The silks can support your entire body or just one part of it at a time (your legs, for example.) 

Aerial yoga can help to improve your flexibility, balance, and core strength. Evidence also suggests it may help to fight against the natural joint compression that happens as we age. It is a low intensity exercise that offers all the physical and mental benefits of traditional yoga with a fun contemporary twist. 

Hula Hooping

If you love moving to music, grab a hula hoop and get ready to twirl your way to fitness! Hula hooping is a playful childhood throwback that engages your core, tones your muscles, improves coordination, and burns calories. It may also help to reduce pain and stiffness in the lower back. 

You can find hula hooping workout classes in many towns and cities. You can also buy a hoop and practice at home–watch Youtube videos to learn the technique, then hoop along to your favorite music. If you want to take your workout up a notch, try a weighted hoop. 

Pound Fitness

Channel your inner rockstar with Pound Fitness, a full-body cardio workout inspired by drumming. Using lightly weighted drumsticks called Ripstix, you'll drum along to the beat of energizing music while performing dynamic movements inspired by yoga and pilates. 

Pound Fitness is a fun and effective way to release stress and get fit. You’ll also improve your rhythm, timing, coordination, speed, agility, endurance, and musicality! 

Definitely one for music lovers everywhere. 

Animal Flow

Animal Flow is a bodyweight-based movement practice that mimics the movements of various animals. It includes a range of movements that are grouped into six categories known as the Six Components. 

Animal Flow combines elements from various other forms of fitness including breakdancing, parkour, and gymnastics. It is versatile and designed to be accessible to all ability levels, even complete beginners. 

You'll crawl, jump, and balance your way through the movements, improving your mobility, strength, and coordination. You can join a class in your city or subscribe to Animal Flow On Demand to learn at home. 

Parkour

Embrace your inner daredevil with parkour, also known as freerunning. Parkour is the art of traversing obstacles with speed and fluidity through a range of movements including running, jumping, and climbing. 

Derived from military obstacle course training, parkour challenges participants to move through an environment using only their body and the surroundings. Parkour is a full-body workout that helps to develop creativity and quick thinking skills as well as strength, agility, speed, and bone density. 

Parkour is a high-impact sport that may not be suitable for everyone, so check with your healthcare provider before you start. 

On National Fitness Day, why not step out of your comfort zone and give one of these unusual and fun fitness trends a try? 

Whether you're bouncing on a trampoline, swinging from silk hammocks, or drumming your way to better fitness, you'll have fun and may even discover a new passion.