Now that summer is here, you may have more free time than you usually do. While lounging around in the house all day can be relaxing, there are other, more productive ways to spend your time. And what better way to do that than to learn a new hobby? Not to mention, there are many benefits to taking up a new hobby, too.
The Benefits Of Hobbies On Mental Health
Learning a new skill or hobby is a great way to maximize your downtime. It can do wonders for your mental health, making it an excellent form of self-care. Taking time to do something that makes you happy helps relieve stress or anxiety. And those who suffer from depression may also find that learning a new hobby promotes better mental health, as well.
The Benefits Of Hobbies On Interpersonal Relationships
Taking up a new hobby is even more fun when you do it with a loved one. Learning something new can be less scary when you’re not alone. And participating in fun things with a friend or family member helps create lasting memories and stronger bonds.
Reducing Negative Behaviors
When you’re preoccupied with doing something positive, it’s harder to focus on the negative. Healthy hobbies can help stimulate your mind and decrease negative behaviors. For example, many people have reduced and even quit their smoking or drinking habits by taking up a new sport or trying out a fun craft. Even better, hobbies that require a lot of physical effort like cycling or hiking are a healthy and productive way to become more active.
Learning a new hobby can be beneficial mentally, physically, and otherwise. It’s a good way to fight boredom and increase productivity. If you’re looking to learn something new, take a look at these six things to do that you can take up today:
1.
Aerial Yoga
Aerial yoga is a meditative practice that merges traditional yoga with other art forms such as pilates and dance. During a session, participants perform yoga poses while suspended in the air with the help of silk fabric.
The fabric is also fashioned into a hammock so that you can try out a number of poses or even lay inside during a cooldown session.
There are many benefits of taking up aerial or antigravity yoga as a new hobby. For example, it requires you to use quite a bit of upper body and abdominal strength to support yourself while suspended in midair. As a result, aerial yoga is good for toning your arms, shoulders, and abs.
Second, the suspension allows for better blood circulation. You can expect increased blood flow to your back and added pressure that lengthens and decompresses your spine.
2.
Flying Trapeze Classes
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If you’ve ever watched a Cirque du Soleil show or other high-flying performance, you may recall the trapeze artists who swing in the air while performing stunts and tricks. Well, now you can get in on the action by taking a flying trapeze class!
Flying trapeze is an acrobatic art form where an artist jumps from a platform onto trapeze bars to perform a series of stunts while swinging in midair. Learn to hang by your knees or swing in tandem with a friend. It can be a fun hobby or a good workout.
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And if you’re worried about falling, don’t be! Trapeze schools provide plenty of netting down below to catch you if you make a mistake.
3.
Glass Blowing
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Glassblowing is a fun hobby that allows you to tap into your creative side. It’s the art of blowing air into glass to create beautiful shapes and designs.
When most people think of glass, they think of it as hard and prone to breaking. But with the help of a little heat, it becomes easier to shape and form. And by blowing into it using a tube, you can create impressive artwork just as the professionals do!
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During a glassblowing session, you can create pretty vases, bowls, and even jewelry. But, of course, it all depends on how much time and effort you put into it. And if you want to get serious about your new hobby, you can take a private class for a one-on-one lesson with a pro!
4.
Improv
Are you the funny one in your friend group? Well, you can hone in on that talent by taking an improv class with a professional. Popularized by hit television shows such as “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” or “Saturday Night Live,” improv is a theater technique that involves creating comedy on the spot. This means that dialogue, plot, and everything that makes up a comedic performance is unplanned. Instead, you might take suggestions from audience members or bounce ideas off your fellow comedians.
If you think learning improv is just about being funny on the fly, think again! You can learn many things in an improv class, including comedic timing, mindfulness, active listening, and physical engagement. With improv classes, you can make being funny your new hobby.
5.
Ghost Hunting
For a spooky skill, make ghost hunting your hobby! Ghost hunting, simply put, is the act of searching haunted locations for paranormal activity. For example, you might peruse a cursed hotel or investigate an abandoned jailhouse in search of a ghost. Either way, this thrilling hobby is not for the faint of heart!
Many ghost hunting companies provide tours for those interested in the paranormal. There, you can cover a number of haunted locations in different parts of the country.
Ghost hunting is also an excellent hobby for history buffs. You can learn a great deal about the history of certain spooky locations, including how they became haunted and the paranormal activities that occurred there. And because ghosts are believed to be the soul or spirit of a dead being, they’re likely to carry a bit of history with them as well.
6.
Calligraphy
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Calligraphy is a decorative handwriting technique used thousands of years ago. Using a pen or brush, you can create beautiful lettering that looks great on wedding invitations, pregnancy announcements, and other handwriting letters.
You can learn a number of tips and techniques in a calligraphy class, including which writing tools and paper to use, how to trace letterforms, and the different types of strokes.
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For an even more fun experience, have a mimosa or glass of wine while you learn! At Sip and Script, you can relax and unwind over a cocktail as a professional instructor teaches you the art of calligraphy. And if you can’t make an in-person class, you can BYOB and take a virtual one from the comfort of your own home!