Hate the Gym? Try These Five Ways to Stay Active

I won’t set foot in a gym. The sight of weights and equipment makes me cringe, and I know full well I won’t make full use of the exorbitant membership fee. Despite this, I feel great when I exercise. It’s a mental and physical boon I simply can’t ignore. So instead of becoming a gym rat, I’ve always strived to find alternate ways to get my proverbial steps in.

Here are five methods I have either A) tried myself and enjoyed or B) heard my friends rave about.

Pickleball: It’s On The Rise

Is this whole article just a thinly veiled excuse for me to write about my latest obsession? Yes, it is. I will sing the praises of pickleball loud and proud. I play anywhere from five to fifteen hours per week, and I still can’t get enough.

Pickleball stands out among its other racket-sport competitors. Tennis is more difficult and slightly less accessible for that reason. Padel (also an up-and-comer) requires an enclosed glass court. Racquetball, too, has a hefty real estate requirement.

Pickleball gyms are popping up everywhere, not to mention the surge of courts now available at parks across the country. It’s excellent cardio, and (at least for me) it’s so fun I forget I’m exercising at all. The numbers back up the hype: SFIA and The Dink’s 2025 participation report clocked 24.3 million pickleball players nationwide, up 171% over three years, the steepest growth curve of any tracked sport.

Circus and Aerial Fitness Classes

Turns out you don’t have to be a modern nomad traveling with the big top to be a circus performer. Circus classes are available in many major cities, specializing in all sorts of art forms. Think juggling, trapeze, and the ever-popular aerial stunts.

I’ve yet to try any of these myself (and nobody wants to see me twisted up in silks), but I’ve heard firsthand how fulfilling they can be. The benefits are obvious. If you’re trapezing or doing aerial, your whole body is engaged. Juggling is great for dexterity and conditioning. I don’t know if tightrope classes are offered, but what a core workout that’d be! The kicker (you’ll start to sense a pattern here) is that it’s a great place to socialize and make friends. Slate’s coverage of the aerial-fitness boom backs this up, noting the discipline has shifted from a niche performance pursuit to an increasingly mainstream, inclusive workout available to bodies of every shape and skill level.

Biking (That’s It, That’s the Header)

Chicago summer is hard to beat when you’re cruising on two wheels along the lakeshore path. I know other regions have boast-worthy biking trails as well. Biking doubles as a mode of transportation, too (guess how I got to pickleball today?).

I’ve heard talk of local biking groups, watering holes where bikers stop for a refresher, and other community-based groups focused on getting from A to B on two wheels. The cardio is just a bonus. A dose-response meta-analysis of nearly 480,000 riders found regular cycling meaningfully cuts all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk, so those miles are doing more than burning calories.

Climbing and Bouldering

I went bouldering with a friend of mine exactly twice. My fingers hurt so bad I could barely press the buttons on my remote afterward. I texted that friend about my perils, and he said: “I know, isn’t it great!”

I guess some people like that sort of thing? It didn’t stop at my fingers, either. It extended to my entire body, which yelled at me whenever I moved. It was a good workout; I can’t deny it.

Climbing gyms are all over the place these days, and they include a variety of options for anyone who wants strength training and conditioning. Bouldering puts you on a wall up to 10 feet high (possibly more or less, depending on the place) without harnesses. You can also climb taller walls by belaying in a harness. Climbing Business Journal’s 2025 Gyms and Trends report counted 41 net new gyms across North America last year, proof the sport’s gym infrastructure keeps expanding even as growth cools slightly from its earlier boom.

People talk about climbing the way I talk about pickleball, so there must be a secret sauce that hits just right for the climbing types.

Recreational Sports Leagues

You might be tempted to call this one a copout, and you’d be right to do so. But how could I possibly leave it out? Rec sports leagues are everywhere, and they span all sorts of sports and skill levels. A quick jaunt around my neighborhood is packed with softball, kickball, and tennis leagues at local parks. The range here is vast, and there’s something for everyone, whether you’re into basketball, Ultimate Frisbee, or any number of other sports.

What Unites These Methods

Every single one of these suggestions at least partially hits on the very reason I don’t want to go to the gym. Despite being surrounded by others, it always feels isolating. Get reps, take a shower, go home. I’m sure some gyms do things differently, but I don’t like the idea of a space feeling so lonely even when it’s full.

Meanwhile, I’ve made countless friends at my pickleball gym. I bring my family with me to hang out and enjoy the amenities while I’m playing sometimes. It’s a community for me, a third space outside of work and home where I feel comfortable and happy.

That’s what most of these exercise alternatives offer. While the actual activity is good for the body, being around others who share an interest is nourishing for the mind and the soul. Even if you’re working out at home, you can still reap the benefits of alternative exercise options for the social aspect alone.