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Style Magazine

Retro Fitness

Sep 30, 2011 05:24PM ● By Wendy Sipple

Fitness is essential to our health, but it can seem rather intense to the casual onlooker. And pricey. And Lycra-y. Remember when exercise was fun? Tetherball in the backyard; riding your bike after school. A lot of those childhood “retro” activities can be enjoyed for fitness. Because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter the activity…just as long as you’re active! We’ve put together a list of our favorite retro fitness activities for you to enjoy…so put on your headband and let’s get physical!

ROLLER SKATING

From the new roller derby revival sweeping the country to just plain old recreational roller skating, there’s a workout to be had on these retro wheels. Don’t forget the helmet and the pads though; the thing they don’t show you in Xanadu is it’s a long way down when you fall. The good news: you can burn up to 350 calories from an hour of moderate skating! Lace up at Roller King in Roseville: rollerkingroseville.com.

BOWLING

Not just for dads anymore, folks. Blame Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski for the revival, but even when it wasn’t “cool,” bowling has always been fun. Families, couples, friends…it’s social and entertaining, and while you might only burn 50 calories in a game, you’ll hone your coordination, agility and mental acuity. Call it “holistic fitness” – mind, body and soul! Throw a strike at Folsom Lake Bowl in Folsom, folsomlakebowl.com and Strikes in Rocklin, strikesbowling.com.

BADMINTON

When played as nature intended and not as a backyard gigglefest, badminton is actually the world’s fastest racket sport. According to the International Badminton Federation (IBF), the fastest badminton smash was 206 mph. (For comparison, Andy Roddick’s fastest serve was 155 mph.) You could get an actual workout from playing! Pro-tip: try playing indoors with a good feather shuttle. You’ll be working up a sweat in no time. Say “hello, birdie!” at the Folsom Middle School Gym on Sundays from 6-9 p.m.

TETHERBALL

You probably haven’t played this since elementary school, but tetherball is a fun, nostalgic and best of all, inexpensive way to get a good full body workout in the privacy of your own backyard. Whether you play it alone, or with a friend or family member, you’ll find that you can dial up the sweat if you dial up the intensity. Have a bash! Pick up your equipment at Big 5 Sporting Goods: 606 East Bidwell Street, Folsom, 916-984-7148, big5sportinggoods.com.

BIKING, RETRO-STYLE

Not into Lycra or bouncing down rocky trails? The old-fashioned bike ride is going strong thanks to the revival of cruiser bicycles, now built for more comfort than you remember as a kid – all the exercise of cycling with the comfort of a padded seat. Cruising with more speed? Opt for an aluminum frame. Get cruising on one of Folsom’s many bike trails along the American River: files.myfolsom.com/map_bikephotos.shtml.

GOOD OLD-FASHIONED WALKING!

Nope, you don’t need a treadmill. Nope, you don’t need to speed-walk. Anywhere between 30 and 60 minutes of walking three to five times a week can aid your physical fitness, general health and even help grease the wheels of weight loss if you wish to gear it that way. All you need is a pair of comfortable walking shoes and a nice neighborhood for sightseeing. Take a friend, the dog, a spouse or some music. The best part: it won’t cost a thing! Get fitted for a new pair of kicks at REI: 2425 Iron Point Road, Folsom, 916-817-8944, rei.com.