Sport is one of the most common activities that can be found throughout different regions around the world. In fact, there are no known cultures that don’t engage in sports in one way or another. It is thought that before we had invented basic things like wheels and knew about agriculture, we were very intimately familiar with the concept of sport. Why wouldn’t we be? It’s something that is essential for our health and helped us survive in earlier times. Hence, if we were to take care of our health, why not have some fun while we were at it? This simple principle is why we still enjoy sports so much to this day.
For most of us, one thing that is always on our minds is our well-being. While we have our financial responsibilities, they are not the only things we have to manage throughout our daily lives. Just as important is our mental and physical health. In most cases, by paying attention to the latter, we can also take care of the former. Physical fitness can have a great effect on how we go on about doing our daily tasks. Regularly exerting your body to its limits is often compulsory to maintain both our outer and inner appearances. Those of us who keep themselves busy by performing various physical tasks tend to have a generally appealing form than those that are prone to physical inactivity.
For many people, that might not be enough to motivate them to divert from their normal indolence. However, people who engage in sports or hit the gym often are much less likely to suffer from severe health conditions. Such activities maintain your blood pressure, keeping your heart rate steady. This also helps you think more clearly and protects you from mental exhaustion. It expands your lungs and enables you to breathe more easily, which itself comes with a ton of health benefits. Your muscles get an adequate amount of movements and, thus, are very amiable in assisting you in performing basic tasks like bending or lifting weights.
To stay in shape, it is crucial that you pay attention to your lifestyle and your hobbies. Staying fit is not something you should take very lightly. Many people devote their bodies to gyms for this very reason. However, if you are not one of those people, there is a smooth alternative that is just as good – sports. Sports are unique in that rather than making you perform plain physical exercises, they make sure that you also enjoy your time. Your mind is constantly active, and your heart is always racing. Generally, sports tend to be competitive, with you sharing a teammate or at least facing an opponent.
However, sometimes you may find yourselves not in the mood for besting an opponent, and to simply spend a day in peace playing by yourself. Fear not, for there are plenty of sports that can do just the thing! Solo sports, as they are called, are excellent ways to engage in fun, physical activities without needing other players or helpers. But it is important to find the solo sport that is best suited to your wants and capabilities.
Let us present to you the top 5 single person sports that will surely keep your heart pumping.
1. Swimming
Perhaps one of the most famous exercises that you could do is swimming. Swimming is much more than exercise. It is a way of disconnecting your feelings and bonds from the outer world and immersing yourself in the deep calm of the water. The moment you enter the water, you feel almost weightless. Unlike most sports, swimming is not bound by age or special requirements like body height or mental exertion. People can start swimming around the age of four or even three years old, and the oldest swimmer in the world is 102 years old!
For beginners, one of the most exciting parts of swimming is focusing on your breath. Submerging your body underwater gives you a whole new experience. Most of the noise from outside the water is blocked, with water rushing in your ears. After you learn to open your eyes underwater, you can also start to swim underwater and dive deeper. It’s a sport with no rules and restrictions on what you do.
Most importantly, swimming is an exercise that uses up almost all the muscles of your body. Besides the obvious ones like your arms and legs, swimming also targets a lot of smaller muscles like your hands and fingers, your upper and lower backs, and even your neck muscles. Overall, swimming is an otherworldly experience that, once you become familiar with, is very hard to let go of.
2. Running
Even though most people view running as a strictly physical exercise, it is much more than that. The reason running is considered one of the best sports is because of its simplicity. There are no instruments involved. There is no need for a special environment. And there is no need to learn any unusual skill. Running is a form of sports that one can engage in without any competitors.
Like swimming, running has compound health benefits. It is very efficient for losing weight as it burns energy pretty fast. It hardens your bones and strengthens your muscles. It helps maintain your blood flow and dramatically improves your cardiovascular fitness. It also builds up your stamina and gives you durability.
3. Surfing
The feeling of surfing is not just that of adrenaline; it’s of pure joy. The joy comes from a combination of solitude, tranquility, and accomplishment. One of the most exciting parts of surfing is the thrill of keeping up with the waves. While surfing, you are forced to live in the moment and can’t let your mind wander off even for an instance.
It is undoubtedly a wild sport that comes with a unique sense of exhilaration. Most people disregard surfing, thinking it’s dangerous, but as long as the waves aren’t too aggressive, there is no nothing to be afraid of.
4. Golf
Golf, comparatively speaking, requires little to no muscle exertion. However, unlike other physical sports, golf is reliant on precise and consistent body motions. For those of us that are looking for an exact challenge, golf is the game.
Though it does ask for a rigorous honing of your skillset, once you get into it, it is intensely gratifying and, not to mention, iconic. On early mornings, in your freshly sprinkled lawn, the sound of your beloved club hitting the ball will get to you every single time, leaving your heart filled with expectations and apprehensions at the same time.
5. Bowling
Bowling is one of the more indoor and relaxing games that always come with a homely feeling to them. Once you get the hang of it and start dropping a few pins, you will never want to stop.
The weight of the ball in your hands, the inviting sight of the pins neatly stacked in front of you, and the feeling of the ball rolling on the alley are pleasantly comforting. It is a repetitive game that will nevertheless keep you wanting to go for one last throw.