Exercise Outside the Box : Fun Alternatives to Spice Up Your Workouts

Looking to stay "summertime fine", but tired of doing the same old exercises? Me too! Let's face it, there are only so many arm curls, lunges, and squats a girl can do before she and her body screams,
 "Boring!" However, it doesn't have to be that way. Try adding a little pizzazz to your workouts. Before you know it, your exercise routine will go from flat to fab- and so will you!

Check out these options to get you exercising outside the box:

Hoopnotica

Studio X, 3850 Gaskins Road, Suite 400, Richmond, 804-338-5252

Website

Get your "hoop" on in Hoopnotica class

at Studio X in Richmond.

Hula hoops. They were what kids' dreams were made of back in the early 80s. We couldn't get enough of these noisy, rock-filled circles of joy. Well, at least I couldn't. But who knew hula hoops could also give you a bodacious bod? The creator of Hoopnotica, that's who! You can join the Hoopdance community at Studio X, which is located inside the Interchange Corporate Center in Richmond. The one-hour workout is guaranteed to shape your muscles, tone your core, and burn up to 600 calories all at the same time! Every second and fourth Mondays, hoop master Brittany teaches everything from waist and angle hooping to leg and shoulder hooping, all while dancing to catchy tunes. She'll even have you hooping while doing lunges and squats! (Yes, you can do both at the same time.) It's a fun workout for hoopers of any level, and trust me, you'll feel the effects after just one lesson.

Casket Cruisers of Virginia : Q & A with Steven Shultz, Jr.

The Casket Cruisers of Virginia are part of a growing number of hearse enthusiasts around the country. The group is based in Hopewell, and since 2011, its 20 members-whose occupations range from construction workers to daycare teachers – have come together to share their love of hearses, Halloween, and hair-raising spookiness.


Thou Dost Surprise Me : An Evening of Surprise Shakespeare, Petersburg, VA

Surprises warm the soul.

Good surprises like discovering an extra vacation day on your work time sheet. Or seeing that the noisy, poop-filled bird family who had set up shop under your front porch has flown the coop. (I seriously thought "mama" and her 7 kids would never leave.)