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You might be surprised at how entertaining your workout can be, when you get your heart racing with these fun and frolicky activities ...

Is it that we boomers just don't know when to give up or when to grow up? A new catch phrase called "Boomertis" is floating about in the boomer lexicon, and it refers to a number of sports-related aches and injuries boomers are suffering at the hands of those recreational activities that have become, well, less age appropriate. As a number of us continue to run, rock climb, and slide into home base with the same intensity as we did when we were younger, our bodies are complaining in ways that are now measurable; The US Consumer Product Safety Commission reports sports injuries increased 18 percent over the past ten years. Might that be when the first wave of boomers turned 50?

Finding ways to have fun and not put our patellas in peril isn't difficult; it just takes a rearranging of priorities. Hey, we're not saying you have to stop playing tackle in the backyard entirely, but maybe it's time to include a few of the following. Some can be geared up for the winter, but most can be done indoors.

1: Ballroom Dancing:

For an activity that combines pure joy and aerobics, dancing is pretty much a no-brainer, but, of course, it depends on what kind of dancing you are doing. Standing in place, biting your lower lip and snapping your fingers won't get you a workout — or a dancing partner, for that matter. But fast hopping to a Quick Step will get the heart muscle thumping. Just begin to learn to Samba, Rumba, the Shag or a fast Foxtrot, and you will soon find out why those celebs on "Dancing with the Stars" are so winded. But remember, air lifts should be left to those less with less breakable bones or those who have enough muscle definition to support a partner.

 

2: Swimming: The well-known "V" of a swimmer's body should give you a hint as to how near-perfect swimming is. It's one of those evergreen activities that's good for everyone of all ages at all times of the year. It has zero negative effects on the musculature system, and the health benefits are nearly unmatched. Swimming works your whole body, improving cardiovascular conditioning, muscle strength, endurance, posture and flexibility all at the same time. Your cardiovascular system in particular benefits because swimming improves your body's use of oxygen without overworking your heart. For boomer kids, there was not a much better a thing we could do than spend hours in the pool getting wrinkled fingers and toes.

3: Kayaking: Kayaks are more maneuverable than canoes and rowboats and can easily navigate shallow creeks, river rapids and sea caves. A kayak trip can mean an adrenaline-pumping trip down white water or a serene paddle among unexplored islands. You make the decision to get an intense heart workout and the chance to get very close to the water or just work the upper body on a nearby lake. Many cities even have evening rides by moonlight. Kayaking is a good choice for those who want a low-impact workout with high-cardio results — that is if you only scatter the cushy trips amongst the more challenging ones.

 

4: Hiking: John Muir said, "Most people are on top of the world, not in it." It might not sound exciting, but hiking is the closest you can get to feeling what your ancestors felt — without the trepidation of being a part of the food chain. For much of his adult life (into his upper 80s) Harry Truman left reporters gasping for breath on his morning hike. Hiking is a tonic to the body and the spirit, and it doesn't take a lot of equipment. What is needed is a good pair of hiking shoes with decent ankle support. A new study suggests that taking an invigorating walk gives aging brains a good workout, boosting memory and sharpening judgment.

 

5: Tennis: (on clay) Tennis on clay is much easier on the knee than tennis on hard courts because of the ability to slide instead of the extreme halt that hard courts deal the knees. If you can't find a clay court, play doubles, which reduces the area you have to cover to reach he ball. Tennis is a good cardiovascular workout and gets both the upper body and the lower body involved. It also requires split-second timing, which works the gray matter, as well. And doubles tennis is a fabulous social venue. It's difficult to remain uptight when you are slamming a volley at the solar plexus of your opponent (mojitos at the club not included).

6: Bicycling: Biking has everything for the kid, or the adolescent, hidden inside: wind in the hair without the roar — or high impact — of a Harley. It also doesn't torque the knees and hips the way snow skiing and water skiing does. A good hybrid bike can be used for going down the road to see a friend or going off-road to get away from everyone. Biking is overtaking golf as the preferred sport of the active boomer. Among the health benefits: stress relief; increased cardiovascular fitness; increased strength; increased balance and flexibility; and increased endurance and stamina. Put yourself on two wheels and get out and see what a wonderful world awaits the intrepid peddler. Once you know how to ride a bike, the steadiness comes back pretty quickly, but leave the off road mountain biking for when you are rock steady.

 

7: Cardio Video Games: No, these are not the Donkey Kongs or Pac Mans of our 20s. Great for indoor workouts when weather is inclement, Nintendo's new-ish Wii game console uses a motion-sensitive technology that requires players to act out movements using the game's controller like a sword or a tennis racket. It all adds up to some very intense exertion, not to mention in-house flailing, so make sure the Ming vase is not within arm shot. The purchase of a Wii comes with a sports package that includes tennis, bowling, baseball and boxing. One of the company's more popular games, Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party, can include up to four players and gets the heart thumping. Caveat: Close proximity to joyful boogying can resulty in minor injury.

 

Want more on how to stay fit?

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