10 wacky workouts to shake up your fitness routine, from anti-gravity yoga to zombies

Anti-gravity yoga

The Anti-Gravity yoga company is taking yoga to a whole new level. In anti-gravity yoga classes you will be shown how to perform yoga poses suspended three-metres off the ground, supported by a material hammock. Benefits include increased flexibility, improved core strength and improved self-esteem – just to name a few.

We tried an aerial yoga class in East London that you will just love.

Hula-hooping

Hulafit takes the fun of the playground and combines hula hooping with cardio exercises to build stamina, tone and improve coordination. If you’ve ever tried hula-hooping, you’ll know it’s only a matter of minutes before you’re sweating your butt off. 

Outrun zombies

Zombie Evacuation offers 5k fun runs where you must outrun flesh-hungry zombies. Races are held at Allianz Park and competitors are given the choice to ‘escape the living dead’ or ‘gorge on the living’.

If you enter as an evacuee (running away from the zombies), you are given three life belts. The zombies ‘bite’ you by taking a life belt. At the end of the race, those with one or more lifebelts still attached are given a survivor’s medal and those with no life belts left are the contaminated. There has never been a better way to race a 5K.

Japanese Sword Fighting

Move one step closer to becoming a Ninja and learn the basics of Japanese swordsmanship with a four-week Kihon course, offered by Battodo Fudokan London. You will learn how to warm up, how to hold a bokken (wooden sword), basic cutting and thrusting, footwork and the first kata (form). 

Flying trapeze

Go to flying trapeze school in Regents Park with the Gorilla Circus for an adrenaline-fuelled experience. The two-hour long sessions are open to every age and ability and there is plenty of opportunity to try harder tricks as you improve. You could also sign up for classes at Circus Space in Old Street, which includes a bunch of other fun options such as tight rope walking and unicycling. Trapeze is an incredible way to work your entire body, particularly yours lats, abs and delts. It’s also ridiculously fun and each trick comes with bragging rights. 

Climb in a castle

London is awash with indoor climbing facilities. One of our faves is the Castle – set up inside an actual castle. This is another activity that is open to climbers of all ages. The climbing centre offer taster days for those who want to climb as a one off, and courses for those who want to improve their skills. Castle has bouldering walls, as well as climbing walls, plus a wonderful cafe serving yummy healthy snacks and meals. Private parties are also catered for – climbing party anyone?

British Military Fitness

Train like you’re in the army with British Military Fitness. British Military Fitness is an outdoor training group that runs all year round, founded by Major Robin Cope and Serjeant Harry Sowerby. The sessions are divided into ability groups so you are guaranteed an effective and fun workout for your current level. Furthermore your first session if free. 

Be prepared to work hard and push your body harder than you’ve ever pushed it before.

Kangaroo shoes

Exercising in Kangaroo shoes is essentially low-impact aerobics. The shoes were designed by physiotherapists for patients who had injuries. This ensures that your intense aerobics session are kind on your joints; and, I don’t know about you, but bouncing around on springy shoes for an hour sounds pretty fun. Sessions are available at GymBox throughout London. You can even get your own Kangoo Jumps shoes.

Ultimate frisbee

This is a game of frisbee like you’ve never seen before. The game consists of two teams made up of seven people playing against each other on a football-sized pitch. The aim of the game is to score points by throwing the frisbee to a team member standing (more likely running) in the end zones, located at either sides of the pitch. You cannot run while you are holding the frisbee and must come to a standstill once you catch it. It is easy to find local Ultimate meet-ups in London and you can even enter leagues and tournaments.

It’s actually a great one to play with your friends. So long as you have at least four people for each team. The rules are a mix of netball and American football. Particularly fun on the beach (sandy, not stoney).

Swing dancing

There are so many benefits to dancing, including improving your mental health, confidence and, ofcourse, fitness. Attending a swing dance lesson is a great way to work up a sweat while having so much fun you will not even notice. Swing Dance UK offers drop in classes in London every Tuesday. Swing Out London provides a listing of all the lindy hop joints in town.