Which sport to choose for the start of the new school year?

The start of the new school year is often a time for making good resolutions. One of these is sport. And you'd like to do just that, but you don't know which one to choose. Between water sports, team sports, indoor sports, outdoor sports, in the gym or in a fitness club, it's easy to get lost. Here are a few ideas to whet your appetite and help you make your choice.

Outdoor sports

Tennis: many people think that tennis is played exclusively competitively, but even if it's the most common sport, it's also possible to play it just to keep fit and feel good. Tennis expends a great deal of energy, and in so doing, muscles the whole body. It's also a sport that frees the mind and encourages concentration.

Padel : Padel is a racket sport similar to tennis and squash that can be played at any level of ability. Its simple rules and ease of learning make it an accessible sport for beginners.

Cycling: it's tiring to pedal, but there are plenty of benefits to be had. Cycling strengthens the cardiovascular system, promotes weight loss and works every muscle in the body. What's more, it's a solo sport, so you can practice whenever you like.

Running: this sport allows you to focus on the goals you've set for yourself. It's not just about running! Running is practised on a regular basis as part of a performance-enhancing program. Not to be confused with jogging, which is practised occasionally with no precise objective.

Fitness club sports

More and more people, both men and women, like to come to a fitness center. The sports available are all the rage! One of the many advantages of fitness sports is their location. It's an indoor sport, generally accessible at any time of day, but also equipped with a wide range of equipment. Gym balls, elliptical bikes, power plates... The latest fitness trend is Zumba, a sport that invites you to move fast and have fun, a great way to combine fun with energy expenditure. There's also gymball, spin bike, pilates, hoop-dance and calisthenics.

Solo sports

There are plenty of sports you can do on your own. If you're one of those who prefers to work out solo, opt for the gym, fitness club, cycling, walking, horse-riding, swimming, running, weight training, among others. These are all great ways to keep your body in shape.

Yoga is a sport that can be practised solo, for relaxation. The sport exists in many variants that are more or less dynamic. Light yoga includes yin yoga, which alternates slow breathing with gentle stretching. Kundalini yoga is ideal for those who want to relax by mastering the breath combined with a set of postures. Hatha yoga remains the best-known and most widely practiced variant in the West. This discipline is highly prized by those seeking relaxation, emotional management, flexibility and fitness.

Team spirit

If you're a team player, or just can't motivate yourself, then a team sport is the obvious choice. Here again, there's plenty to choose from: hiking, tennis, table tennis, soccer, badminton, basketball, rugby and, most recently, ultimate. The latter pits two teams against each other and is played with a Frisbee.

Fighting sports

Boxing: there was a time when this sport was mainly practiced by men. Things have changed, however, and today it's just as popular with women. Why is that? Because of the many benefits of boxing, many women have taken up the sport. Boxing is a very complete sport, working every muscle in the body and helping to develop the cardiovascular system. That's on the physical side, but boxing also has a mental impact. In particular, it helps build self-confidence.

There are different types of boxing: full-contact, Thai boxing, English boxing, French boxing and kick boxing. There's plenty to choose from!

Martial arts such as judo and karate enable you to manage stress and develop self-confidence, flexibility, reflexes, agility, muscular strength and cardio-respiratory endurance.

How do I make my choice?

The choice is vast, and that makes it hard to decide. To find out which sport is right for you, you'll need to answer a number of questions. What do you want to do? Team, pair or solo? What are your goals? Do you need a coach? What's your availability, budget and general state of health? Once you've answered all these questions, you should know which sport is best for you.