What is the Best Sport for Fitness?

It’s time to get controversial! In this article, we’ll rank 5 sports that are commonly regarded as being a good source of exercise/fitness training.

We’ll rate the sports based on how balanced they are (i.e. good workout for various parts of the body), how intense they are, how accessible they are, how enjoyable they are (because they won’t keep you fit if you don’t keep playing!), and a range of other factors.

Discover the best sport for fitness below!

1. Gymnastics

Some people might overlook gymnastics as a sport, writing it off as just young girls prancing about in sparkly leotards. But those people are wrong. Gymnastics is one of the most difficult sports in the world, requiring strength, cardio fitness, flexibility, and coordination.

You don’t have to be an Olympian to experience the physical benefits of gymnastics – just doing this sport at a recreational level will improve your fitness. It’s not only for kids either, with adult gymnastics classes becoming increasingly popular.

2. Swimming 

Swimming gets your entire body moving, making it one of the best sports to keep fit. If you’re prone to injuries from high impact activities like running or lifting weights, swimming takes the pressure of off your joints while keeping your heart rate up. It also builds endurance and cardiovascular fitness, helping to boost your lung capacity over time.

As it’s one of the most peaceful and relaxing forms of exercise, swimming also has mental health benefits.

3. Cycling

There’s a reason the roads are filled with cyclists these days. Cycling is a low-impact form of exercise and can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and chronic illnesses like diabetes. It tones your muscles while building your cardiovascular fitness, making you look and feel fitter.

Cycling is also easy, and the intensity can be adjusted to suit your fitness level. If you’re feeling super fit, try cycling up steep hills to really push yourself. Haven’t ridden a bike since childhood? Start by going for rides around the block before slowly building up your endurance.

4. Tennis

Looking for the best sport for losing weight? You can burn hundreds of calories in a single game of tennis. If you’re trying to increase your aerobic capacities, tennis involves lots of running around. You’ll work up a sweat in no time playing this sport, so it’s great for getting fitness results fast.

Playing tennis consistently offers a range of additional benefits, such as a lowered resting heart rate, improved agility and better hand eye coordination. If you don’t like exercising alone, partner up and play as a doubles team.

5. Basketball

If you enjoy team sports and high-energy exercise, consider playing basketball to get fit. As of the best cardio sports in the world, basketball can improve your special awareness, aerobic fitness and coordination. It’s fast-paced and highly competitive, so you’ll never get bored playing basketball.

Being part of a team is a great source of motivation, making it easier to exercise consistently. Even if you feel exhausted after your first couple of games, your fitness will gradually improve.

No matter what sport you decide to play, any activity that gets you moving will help build your fitness.

If you’re lacking the motivation to start exercising, we can offer tips on How to Get Motivated to Exercise or check out more health and fitness advice on our blog.