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11 Sneaky Ways to Get More Movement Into Your Day

Let’s be honest, we don’t all love exercise. For some of us, the idea of going out for a run, or an early morning boot camp is enough to make us break out into a cold sweat.

But the fact is, movement is good. There’s a huge myth that exercise has to be long, intensive cardio for it to be worthwhile. But that’s just not true. Often it can do more harm than good exercising in this way – not to mention the increased risk of injury. If you don’t enjoy the exercise you’re doing, is it really going to benefit you as much as working out in a way you love? The stress from long intensive cardio, particularly if you hate it, could do you serious harm. Especially if you’re regularly forfeiting an hour of sleep most nights to fit it in.

If you love running on a treadmill in the gym – good on you – but for those of us who don’t, how about getting your fitness in another way? A way you might actually love?

Here are some alternative ways to get some exercise in – without stepping foot in a gym:

Dance

There aren’t many things more fun than dancing – whether you’re out with friends, taking a dance class, or just dancing in the privacy of your living room.

Yoga

Yoga is so easy to start, whether following online at home or joining a class. Wherever you live, there’s bound to be one nearby.

Walking

Seriously, it doesn’t get any easier than this! Whether it’s walking for a purpose or just to explore your local area.

Playing video games

Seriously! Of course, I mean an active video game, like Wii Fit or Just Dance.

Playing with the kids

Pretend you’re the same age – it’ll keep you young, and they’ll love it!

Martial arts

Have you ever tried karate or judo? A lot of fun – and a valuable skill too.

Garden

Maybe this is the year to sort your garden out, with a proper veggie patch and some light landscaping? I love dual-purpose exercise like this – the treadmill doesn’t reward you with home-grown veg, does it?

Clean

Not the most fun, I admit, but cleaning your house is a great workout – and has the side benefit of making everything sparkly and shiny.

Volunteer

Wherever you live, you can guarantee there will be some volunteer schemes nearby. Maybe it’s looking after the local park or beach, or helping at an animal shelter – give it a try!

Get a dog

Well, you should probably have more reasons than just the exercise benefit – but what better way to move than with your canine best friend?

Dust your bike down

Cycling is such a low-impact, fun way to get out. Put a basket on the front and who needs the car next time you go grocery shopping?

Why Non-Gym Exercise Might Be the Best Kind

Not everyone thrives on structured workouts or time spent in a gym. For many, the idea of squeezing into workout clothes and heading to a class or bootcamp can be a huge turnoff. That’s where sneaky, everyday movement really shines. It’s not just effective — it’s actually enjoyable.

Incorporating fun ways to exercise into your daily life helps make movement feel like second nature. Whether it’s dancing in the lounge room, playing tag with the kids, or working up a sweat in the garden, you’re still reaping the physical and mental benefits of staying active.

This style of movement also supports the Paleo philosophy — living in a way that aligns more closely with how our ancestors lived. They weren’t doing spin classes at 6am — they were walking, carrying things, climbing, squatting, playing and moving in all kinds of natural ways throughout the day.

Movement doesn’t have to be long, intense, or punishing to be effective. What matters most is consistency and enjoyment. When you move in a way that makes you feel good, you’re far more likely to stick with it long term.

So next time you’re dreading the idea of “working out,” think about how you can simply move more. Your body doesn’t care if it’s a treadmill or a game of backyard cricket — it just wants to move.

Break Movement Into Micro Workouts

You don’t need a full hour carved out of your day to benefit from exercise. In fact, breaking activity into small chunks — known as micro workouts — can be incredibly effective. A few sets of bodyweight squats while the kettle boils, lunges while brushing your teeth, or a one-minute plank before you jump in the shower can all add up. These quick bursts are particularly useful for building strength, balance and flexibility without needing to change clothes or leave the house.

If you work from home, set a timer to remind you to stand and stretch or do a few jumping jacks every 30 to 60 minutes. Not only does this help maintain circulation and posture, but it also boosts productivity and focus. Movement doesn’t have to be scheduled — it just needs to happen.

Use the Environment Around You

Nature is the original gym, and it’s completely free. Use a park bench for step-ups, tree branches for pull-ups (if you’re able), or a rock or log for weighted squats. Uneven terrain like hills, sand, or forest trails naturally challenges your balance and engages more muscles than flat, indoor surfaces. If you’ve got a beach, national park, or hiking trail nearby, make the most of it.

Even the stairs in your home or office can become a training tool — walking or jogging up and down them a few times a day quickly adds intensity to your daily routine. Look for everyday obstacles and turn them into opportunities to move.

Social Movement Matters Too

Exercise is more enjoyable — and easier to stick to — when it’s social. Think about how you can involve your partner, kids, or friends. Regular walks with a friend are great for accountability and conversation. Family bike rides, weekend hikes, or even a backyard game of footy can strengthen your relationships as well as your muscles.

For those who struggle with motivation, finding a movement buddy can be the secret weapon. It’s harder to bail on a morning walk when someone is waiting for you. Group dog walks, community yoga in the park, or a neighbourhood walking group can all help turn movement into a shared ritual.

Incorporate Play and Curiosity

Play isn’t just for kids — in fact, adults benefit enormously from playful, exploratory movement. Activities like hula hooping, skipping, balancing on rails, or trying to climb trees may sound silly at first, but they reconnect you with movement for the joy of it. And when exercise feels like fun instead of a chore, it becomes something you look forward to.

Consider trying something totally new that challenges your body and mind. That might be bouldering, paddleboarding, slacklining, or even circus arts. It doesn’t have to be competitive or intense — the goal is to move with curiosity and without judgement.

Build Functional Strength in Everyday Tasks

Functional movement is all about mimicking the types of actions you need in everyday life — bending, reaching, lifting, pushing, and pulling. Many of these movements already exist in your routine — you just need to be intentional with them. For example, when you pick something up off the floor, turn it into a proper squat or deadlift. When you're carrying groceries, engage your core and treat it like farmer's carries.

Housework, gardening, DIY projects and even lifting a toddler are all opportunities to move with awareness and improve your functional strength. Approach these everyday activities like a workout and you’ll soon notice the difference in how your body feels.

Track Progress Without Obsessing

While non-gym movement is wonderfully free and flexible, it can be motivating to track your progress in simple ways. This could be a checklist of daily activities (e.g. walked 8,000+ steps, did 10 squats while cooking, danced for 10 minutes), a whiteboard of weekly goals, or using a basic pedometer or smartwatch. Keep it light and pressure-free — the aim is to stay consistent, not perfect.

Celebrating small wins is key. Maybe you walked every day this week, or played footy with your kids twice — acknowledge it! Movement should be something you feel proud of, not punished by.

Make Movement Part of Your Paleo Life

If you're already committed to eating in a way that supports your body naturally, it makes sense to apply the same logic to how you move. The goal isn’t to punish your body with endless reps and sprints — it’s to nourish it with intentional, joyful, and sustainable movement. Just like with food, the best exercise is the one that feels good and suits your lifestyle.

From a gentle walk on the beach at sunrise to dancing in your kitchen while dinner cooks, movement can be woven throughout your day in ways that energise, uplift and support long-term health. It doesn’t need to involve gym memberships, Lycra, or strict regimens — just a willingness to move a little more, in whatever way feels right for you.

Ido Portal Movement Culture event conference classes australia sydney

Ido Portal – Paleo Fitness

With MovNat coming to Australia in March – and founder Erwan Le Corre teaching at PrimalCon in April – it really is the year of natural movement. Get ready for Ido Portal!

I’ve recently found out about Ido Portal. His YouTube videos show the most incredible movement, strength and balance. You can’t watch these videos and not be completely in awe – he makes the movements look so effortless. My handstand push-up ambition just doesn’t quite cut the mustard anymore!

As all the Paleo & related experts do eventually, Ido Portal is coming to Australia! He’s taking a two day workshop on the 25^th & 26^th February, at Elements of Movement, CrossFit Sydney.

Better get practicing…

Who Is Ido Portal?

Ido Portal is a name that comes up time and time again when talking about movement, mobility, and bodyweight strength. A former Capoeira practitioner from Israel, Ido has developed a completely unique movement philosophy that brings together strength training, gymnastics, martial arts, dance, and play. His methods are unconventional, yet captivating. Watching him move is like watching a wild animal – fluid, controlled, powerful. It’s no wonder so many in the Paleo and natural movement worlds are drawn to his teachings.

Unlike traditional gym-based workouts focused solely on isolated muscle groups, Ido Portal encourages movement for the sake of movement. He talks about being a “mover”, rather than a lifter, runner, or yogi. His core message is simple but profound: humans were born to move – in many different ways, through all planes of motion, across a variety of environments.

The Link Between Paleo and Movement

Many people associate Paleo with food – and rightly so. But what we eat is just one part of a much bigger ancestral picture. The Paleo lifestyle also includes sleep, sunlight, connection, and of course – natural movement. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors didn’t train in gyms or sit at desks all day. They squatted, climbed, crawled, jumped, hung, and moved across rugged terrain. Their movement was purposeful, varied, and frequent.

This is why movements like MovNat, Parkour, and now Ido Portal’s Movement Culture resonate so deeply with the Paleo community. They represent a return to the way our bodies were designed to move. Whether you’re navigating a rocky trail barefoot or attempting a one-arm hang, you’re reconnecting with primal movement patterns that modern life has all but erased.

Why Ido Portal's Approach Is Different

Ido Portal’s workshops are nothing like a CrossFit WOD or a typical yoga class. He breaks down movement into its most fundamental elements. You'll practice spinal waves, wrist mobility drills, animal walks, hand balancing, acrobatics, and partner games that challenge your awareness and control.

What makes Ido Portal’s philosophy so compelling – especially for those of us in the Paleo community – is that it embraces both strength and softness. It’s not about hitting PBs in the gym or achieving a ‘perfect’ handstand. It’s about exploring your body’s capacity for movement, developing resilience, and rediscovering physicality in a holistic way.

Ido Portal and the Paleo Fitness Movement in Australia

Australia has long been at the forefront of the Paleo movement, with a vibrant community of primal eaters, barefoot runners, and natural movement advocates. With Ido Portal's workshops now making their way to Australia, it’s clear we’re part of a global shift in how we understand fitness and wellbeing.

In fact, the timing couldn’t be better. With MovNat expanding their Australian offerings and events like PrimalCon showcasing more natural movement each year, Ido Portal’s arrival adds serious weight to the growing Paleo fitness scene down under. Whether you live in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, or somewhere in between, there’s never been a better time to explore this way of moving.

Training for Movement – Not Just Muscles

One of the biggest takeaways from Ido Portal’s teachings is that movement is a skill. Like learning a language or playing a musical instrument, it takes consistent practice, curiosity, and humility. You’ll be challenged mentally and physically – and that’s the point.

Rather than repetitive sets and reps, Ido's students learn patterns. They explore locomotion flows, hand balancing drills, and coordination exercises. These develop not just strength, but control, agility, rhythm, and spatial awareness. It's like play – but with purpose.

For those already eating Paleo and interested in improving health beyond diet, this approach adds depth to your lifestyle. Your body starts to feel more capable, more aligned, and more adaptable to the demands of everyday life – whether that’s chasing after your kids, hiking in the bush, or simply getting up off the floor with ease.

How to Get Started With Ido Portal Inspired Movement

If attending a full workshop feels intimidating (or is out of your reach geographically), there are plenty of ways to incorporate Ido-inspired movement into your daily life.

Start with basic mobility drills: wrist rolls, spinal waves, hip circles – movements you probably haven’t done since childhood.
Practice hanging: from a bar, a tree branch, or even doorways. Build grip strength and decompress your shoulders.
Try animal movements: bear crawls, lizard walks, frog jumps – these build coordination, strength, and endurance.
Make use of floor time: sit on the ground more, experiment with rolling, squatting, and low gait movements.
Watch Ido’s YouTube channel for inspiration – but don’t compare. Use it to spark your curiosity, not self-judgement.

And remember, movement is not something to tick off your to-do list – it’s something to explore, enjoy, and refine every day. Start with 5–10 minutes and grow from there.

The Power of Play

Something else that sets Ido Portal apart is his emphasis on play. Many adults have forgotten how to play. But play is how we learn, how we connect, and how we heal. It doesn’t matter if you’re doing handstands in the park or crawling on the floor with your kids – playful movement helps rewire your brain, improve joint health, and reduce stress.

That playful spirit fits beautifully with the Paleo ethos. This lifestyle is about thriving, not just surviving. Movement should feel like joy, not a chore. It should reconnect you with your body and your environment, not isolate you to a treadmill or gym mat.

Ido Portal in Sydney – What to Expect From a Workshop

If you’re lucky enough to attend one of Ido Portal’s workshops in Australia, here’s what you might expect:

Two full days of movement training that will push you outside your comfort zone.
No fluff: Ido is known for being direct, no-nonsense, and laser-focused on teaching.
Community: a chance to connect with others who are curious about movement, Paleo, and personal growth.
Surprises: expect to be challenged physically and mentally – but in the best way.

Bring an open mind, lots of water, and a sense of humour. You'll be sore, inspired, and possibly a bit overwhelmed – but you'll also leave with a renewed appreciation for what your body can do.

Where to Learn More

If you're just getting started and want to dive deeper into Ido Portal’s world and how it intersects with Paleo fitness, check out the following:

Ido Portal on YouTube – for movement videos, lectures, and examples of his students’ transformations.
Ido Portal on Facebook – for event announcements and philosophy posts.
MovNat Australia – if you're interested in complementary natural movement training.
The Paleo Network – for events, resources, and more Paleo-friendly movement ideas in Australia and New Zealand.

Is Ido Portal Paleo?

While Ido doesn’t explicitly label himself Paleo, his philosophy overlaps with many of the movement principles our ancestors lived by. He advocates for nutrient-dense food, rest, sunlight, barefoot movement, and spending time in nature. He also recognises the dangers of modern sedentary life and offers a powerful antidote through his movement culture.

In that sense, he fits right in with the broader Paleo lifestyle. He may not push bone broth recipes or intermittent fasting, but he embodies the idea of human optimisation through reconnection – with our bodies, our environment, and each other.

Final Word: Get Moving

Whether you’re deep into your Paleo journey or just starting out, Ido Portal’s approach can offer new energy and insight. If you’ve ever felt limited by the typical gym routine, or if you’ve lost touch with how your body likes to move, his work could be a game-changer.

So next time you're barefoot in your backyard, try a squat, a hang, a crawl. See how it feels. Make it part of your day. And if you’re feeling brave – maybe even sign up for that workshop.

Because Paleo isn’t just about what’s on your plate – it’s also about what you do with your body. And the world is your gym.