The top 5 childhood workouts you can do as a grown up

25 Sep The top 5 childhood workouts you can do as a grown up

When meeting new clients, it is not uncommon that people tell me they were at their fittest when they were at school.

I think there are many reasons for this but some of it comes down to the physical childhood games we used to play (as there were no computers or video games back then).

But there is no reason why we can’t bring those games back into your training today – they are simple, cheap, fun and guaranteed to get you fit and feeling great. So here are my top 5 childhood games you can still play today:

1. Skipping

I used to love skipping when I was young and there is a reason why boxers incorporate it into their training. It improves your eye and hand coordination, makes you lighter on your feet, increases strength in your ankle joints and feet (thus making you more resistant to injury), burns a hell of a lot of calories, improves bone density and your cardiovascular health. Plus a skipping rope can cost as little as $10.

2. Elastics

One of my favourite school games was Elastics or Chinese Jump Rope. It is typically played by three or more players (or even a couple of chairs) using a string of rubber bands that have been tied into a circle, usually at least six feet long. Two of the players face each other several feet apart, and position the string starting at their ankles and the third player stands between the two sides of the rope and must accomplish a series of jumps. The position of the elastics are raised higher as the jumper moves through the levels, from ankles, to knees, thighs and so forth. Not only is this game such fun but it gets the heart racing and strengthens the muscles in your legs and butt.

3. Hopscotch

Remember hopscotch – the playground game in which players toss a small object into numbered spaces of a pattern of rectangles outlined on the ground and then hop or jump through the spaces to retrieve the object?

Believe it or not, hopping on one foot is one of the most complex movements the human body can perform.  Leaping over two or more spaces at one time with two feet can be hard enough but jumping one foot takes a lot of strength, coordination and balance.

4. Handball

Not just for kids, all you need is a ball, a line (or a wall) and someone to play against. Perfect for improving movement, agility, quickness and speed.

5. Tug of War

This is a classic game of strength – grab a rope, you hold one end, someone else holds the other, then pull with all your might (or you can even play this with your dog). While you need upper body strength, you’ll also need a powerful lower body and a strong core that can take the strain as you heave and hold the rope. Not to mention, you’ll need mental fortitude to keep the pressure on while waiting for the opportunity when your rival slackens so you can pull them over the line.