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7 Fun Party Activities That Are Great Exercises Too!

Written by Dr. Pramod Mane on Wed, 13 September 2023 — Fact checked by Rama Manikumar

Key Highlights

  • Fun party activities help to keep your calories in check.
  • Fun physical activity like dancing is cardio done in a fun way with your favorite music and company.
  • Identify the fun activity you like, listen to your body and participate in the group activities to make it less boring.
  • These activities also allow people to spend quality time with family and friends without missing the exercise routine.
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Are you bored with your usual workout and demotivated in your fitness journey? You are not alone! Exercising rut can happen to anyone. All you need is something that can spice up your routine to get you back on track.

Young peeps often like to get together, indulge in good food and party hard. Calories will be the last thing you want to bother when partying. And then there comes the regret of all the extra gained calories!

Now, here’s the twist! What if we told you that while you have a blast, you can keep those calories in check through the fun games you play? Awesome right? All you need is some meticulous planning to line up the activities that can double as fun exercise activities at the next party you throw.

Here are 7 fun party activities that replicate an exercise routine and help keep your health in check!

Get on the floor!

  • Dancing is one of the mainstay activities planned for every party. Good music and lively people bring a positive and energetic vibe to the party!
  • Dancing is not only fun physical activity but also benefits the body! An hour of dancing can burn up to 500 calories depending on the intensity.
  • Dancing helps improve heart health and cognitive flexibility and maintains or builds bone density, fitness, flexibility and coordination in people.
  • In addition to these physical benefits, dance can boost one’s mood and help to relieve stress and anxiety!
  • For those who don't like intense dancing, you can bring in a few chairs and organise a game of musical chairs. Musical chairs are a fun physical activity for all ages.
  • Partner workout challenges like couple dancing, team dancing etc., will allow partners to have fun, exercise and spend quality time together, all at the same time.

Get on the floor!

Having a great time is always possible with a dance party, so shake it off! Dance your way to fitness.

The Dog and the Bone game

Physicality games like the Dog and the Bone game are fun and something we’ve all played as kids.

Including this fun activity would improve bonding and a fun team-building activity among your guests!

This game requires some open space and involves two teams fighting over a ‘bone’. A bottle or a cup can be the prop as ‘bone’. Each team will send one representative to steal the ‘bone’. Once the host shouts ‘go’, individuals compete to steal the bottle/cup. The first person to snatch it wins the round. The team that secured the bone the most is the winner.

The Dog and the Bone game

A gift for the winning team and a penalty for the losers will make the game more exciting.

Let’s hoop!

No, we are not talking about basketball! We’re talking about hula hooping as a party activity which can be a great combination of exercise and games you play!

  • Hula hooping is a fun holiday party game that doubles as an energy-busting indoor game. It can help to shed fat and tone your muscles for a slim waist.
  • 30 mins of hula hooping can burn ~165 calories in women and ~200 calories in men. Hula hooping generally involves swirling the hoop around your waist.

Let’s hoop!

However, not all people can do this! Here are some unique fun exercises to keep things exciting:

  • Hula hoop skipping: Take a hula hoop and start skipping. You can have a competition between two people and the one with the most number of skips wins!
  • Hula hoop Team link: Divide the people into two teams in a straight line, side by side. The goal is to pass the hoop along the line by hopping in and out of it without breaking the link. The two teams can race each other, and the fastest one wins! These team-building workouts ensure that people interact and do things together and wouldn’t feel tiresome.
  • Hula hoop hopscotch relay: Lay down a series of 5-6 hula hoops with a cup at the end. The player must hop on one leg on the hoops, touch the glass and return to the starting point. The next person can only go when the previous one tags them. Divide the group into two teams and have them race.

Scavenger hunt

  • A time-limit-based laser tag or scavenger hunt can be a great inclusion to your list of fun party activities. These will increase moderate physical activity and cover your daily steps requirement.
  • Fun exercise warm-up activities for adults will allow their bodies to build stamina.
  • You can modify the difficulty or intensity of the exercises and clues based on the age and fitness abilities of the participants.
  • Different types of physical activity offer physical and mental health benefits. With the clock ticking and riddles to solve, this game will act as a workout for their bodies and brain.

Scavenger hunt

Jump your heart out!

  • Well, not literally. But jump your heart out on a trampoline or use a jump rope.
  • Getting a jump rope, renting a trampoline or booking a trampoline park for a party venue are fun fitness exercises that help you feel like a child again.
  • Apart from the fun, trampoline exercises are a convenient and enjoyable way to boost your cardiovascular health, balance, coordination and strengthen your bones and muscles and reduce stress.
  • You can jump to some funky beats on a trampoline or on a skipping rope for weight loss in a fun way.

Jump your heart out!

Tic tac toe with a twist

  • We’ve all played tic tac toe outdoors, but you can play it indoors too, as a team building workout.
  • Physical challenge games for adults like this are a hybrid of - race and tic tac toe.

Here’s how you play it!

  • Divide the group into two teams.
  • Lay down the tic tac toe board (hashtag). You can use tape to mark the lines.
  • Each team will get 3 cups.
  • A single player from each team sprints to the hashtag and places the marker in the square of their choice.
  • After placing, they sprint back and tag the next person to do the same.
  • The goal is to win the tic-tac-toe game.

Tic tac toe with a twist

It is a fun game to get everyone involved and boost their competitive spirit. Also, with all the sprinting and running, it doubles as an aerobic exercise. Always participate in games that match your fitness level and gradually increase the intensity as you become more comfortable and confident.

Twister

  • Twister is a fun game for children, but adults can play it too.
  • This game requires only a bit of space, and the mat is available in any general or online store.
  • The game generally involves up to 3 players. You can form teams in case there are a lot of people. The game comes with a mat and a spinner.

Twister

Here’s a gist of how you play the game!

  • The mat spots a series of circles of different colors.
  • The referee spins the spinner and calls out a body part. For eg. Right hand to the red circle.
  • Players must place their hands on the circles mentioned.
  • The game goes on till the player falls on the mat. The stronger one will survive and win!

These are fun physical therapy activities for adults that benefits improved coordination, balance, and core strength.

Conclusion

Fun activities for exercise can be a fantastic way to incorporate fitness into your routine, as they provide an enjoyable and engaging way to get active. Always choose games that suit your fitness level and consider the age and abilities of the participants.

Now party-goers can enjoy the party and not worry about missed workout sessions or gained calories. Party hard without remorse!

Frequently Asked Questions

Owing to its numerous physical and mental well-being, exercising is a must for everyone. Regular exercise helps maintain a healthy weight, strengthens muscles and bones, and enhances cardiovascular health. It lowers the chances of chronic diseases by boosting your immune system.

It also reduces symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression by releasing endorphins, the natural mood elevators. Also, improve sleep quality, boost self-confidence, improve energy levels and reduces fatigue. Regular physical activity is associated with a longer and healthier life. Fun physical activity can act as the double for an exercise routine.

Fun fitness exercises can help you stay motivated and engaged with your fitness routine. Fun activities for exercise include dancing, hiking, swimming, cycling, martial arts, outdoor games, team sports etc., that you enjoy.

Exercising with friends or joining a fitness group can make your workouts more enjoyable and provide social support. Go for family walks or bike rides, partner workout challenges etc., that ensure spending ample, quality time with family too. Outdoor activities and rewarding yourself can encourage you.

Your personal preferences and interests play a huge role in choosing fun activities for exercise. Including your favorite place, music, and company can create an impact. Try new things, form new groups with friends, and mix and match your fitness routine, including fun party activities. Listen to your body and then choose a workout.

The busy lifestyle often steals away family time. Exercising together as a family promotes physical fitness, strengthens bonds and creates lasting memories. Some fun fitness exercises for families to enjoy together include family walks, bike rides, hikes, outdoor games like tag, hide-and-seek, frisbee, soccer, basketball, or volleyball, swimming, family dance party and many more.

Exercising includes different types of physical activity, and they tend to improve overall well-being. It mainly includes:

  • Cardiovascular exercises: Running or jogging, Cycling, Swimming
  • Strength training exercises: Weightlifting, Bodyweight exercises (push-ups, squats, lunges), Resistance band exercises
  • Flexibility and balance exercises: Yoga, Pilates
  • Outdoor activities: Hiking, Kayaking
  • Mind-body exercises: Meditation, Breathing exercises
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Dr. Pramod Mane

A Doctor of Medicine (MD) in Pharmacology., currently based in Mumbai, India, Dr Pramod Mane, comes with an experience of more than 20 years of working in Medical Affairs in the Pharmaceuticals & Nutraceutical Industry. Director of Medical Services at Mega Lifesciences since 2008, Dr Mane has been associated with several MNCS in the areas of Medical Affairs, Medical Services, Medico-marketing, Pharmacovigilance & Clinical trials in his illustrious career.

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1 Comments

  1. Nankanja Hannah

    Mon, 10 July 2023, 8 months ago

    I have tried everything but am not losing

    Reply

    Leave a Comment

    1. Alpert PT. The health benefits of dance. Home Health Care Management & Practice. 2011 Apr;23(2):155-7.
    2. “Do weighted hula hoops provide a good workout, or are they just a gimmick?”Accessed on: 23rd November 2021.
    3. "10 hula hoop games and activities". Available from: Daviessports  
    4. "Official Twister rules". Available from: Math.uni  
    5. "The many benefits of exercising on a trampoline". Available from: Health Clevelandclinic 

    Our team of experts frequently monitors developments in the health and wellness field, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

    Current Version

    Sep, 13 2023

    Written By

    Dr. Pramod Mane

    Fact checked By

    Rama Manikumar

    Sep, 05 2023

    Written By

    Dr. Pramod Mane

    Fact checked By

    Rama Manikumar