10 sports to keep fit even on holiday
Why not try your hand at a new sport right on holiday? Here are all our favourites!
Holidays are synonymous with relaxation, distraction, fun... but that's not all! The summer break from study or work is a great opportunity to establish new positive habits, including healthy eating and regular exercise. But if you're not too keen on gym workouts, know that summer is the perfect season to try new sports, all strictly outdoors! The goal? Combine psycho-physical wellbeing with lots of fun and a desire for adventure! If you're running out of ideas, here is a selection of sports activities to practise on holiday, ideal for both the more sporty and the beginner: - Running and trekking: strictly outdoors to take advantage of the mild temperatures, even better if on the beach or surrounded by greenery. Italy is full of wonderful places to go trekking, from the splendid Dolomites in Trentino Alto-Adige, the Madonie Park in Sicily, the Tour of Mont Blanc in Val d'Aosta, or the marvellous routes of the Cinque Terre in Liguria, or the wild island of Capraia in Tuscany. You'll be spoilt for choice! - Swimming: take advantage of your seaside holiday to indulge in some regenerating swimming, obviously equipped with goggles and not going beyond the safe zones. - Yoga: perfect for those who are lazy or not very accustomed to sport, yoga is ideal for rediscovering the right connection between body and mind. Even better if done by the sea, early in the morning! - Pilates: this discipline can be practised at any age, and is recommended for counteracting the obnoxious posture problems caused by an excessively sedentary lifestyle. It is also a great way to make friends and socialise on holiday! - Mountain biking: a holiday in the mountains is the right opportunity to try out routes and trails in contact with the beauty of nature, to be ridden on your own bike! Among the many beautiful routes to be covered, we recommend the one that runs along Lake Ledro, the very famous Adda Ring, but also the multi-level routes within the Monti Sibillini National Park, between Marche and Umbria. - Surfing, in all its variations: who said that you have to go to the other side of the world to surf?! With a few lessons and the help of an expert, you can learn disciplines such as wind surfing, kite surfing, or paddle surfing, one of the sports currently in vogue. The Italian beaches, not having cold, choppy waters like those of the ocean, are ideal for those who have never tried surfing or are at a beginner level. Levanto is undoubtedly among Italy's most popular locations for surfers, but we also recommend Ostia Lido or the north of Sardinia, in particular the resort of Santa Teresa. - Beach volleyball: if you hate lazing on the beach, beach volleyball is the sport for you! Competition, dynamism, and lots of fun are the three factors that make this sport so popular with young and old! Between matches, don't forget to stay hydrated and use adequate sun protection for a perfect tan. - Canoeing: ideal for strengthening arm muscles, it is the right sport for a couple on holiday by the sea or lake. The only basic requirement: knowing how to swim well, so as to be prepared for possible falls in the water. The Island of Elba and Lake Garda are the two ideal destinations par excellence for rowing and kayaking. Among the most popular rivers to paddle, however, we cannot fail to mention the Sesia, in Piedmont, or the Nera, in Umbria. - Snorkelling: If you want to try a unique and fascinating experience, and at the same time keep fit, snorkelling allows you to admire the seabed and the fish that inhabit it. The best places to try this exciting experience are undoubtedly the Sardinian and Sicilian coasts. - Extreme sports: For thrill-seekers, summer holidays are the perfect opportunity to finally try an extreme sport! If you have decided to spend an adrenalin-fuelled holiday, Abruzzo is among the regions that offer the most opportunities, along with Marche, Trentino Alto-Adige and Emilia Romagna: paragliding, slackline, freediving, parachuting, bungee jumping... the choice is truly vast! And after all this sport? Don't forget to replenish the lost vitamins and minerals with a Snack based on Jingold kiwi!
