Bridge of Thighs Trivia Quiz

Answer: Gymnasium

I look up gyms in my area and a svelte young person walks me through their "fitness center". Most offer free weights, machines to train specific muscles, yoga classrooms, a circular track, and possibly a swimming pool. Many have skilled staff who offer individual training. But even the Roman Seneca complained about all the grunting and gasping in the gyms, so it might not be for you. The Ancient Greeks invented the gymnasium, where only men worked out, always in the buff.

In the photo a fit gal uses an exercise ball to do a "plank", which strengthens the core, improves posture, can reduce back pain, and works out the thighs and bottom. You also see the typical mats, a bench and gym machines.

Answer: Water slide

A water slide is a downward wet surface or chute in which folks of nearly any age can slide. You may ride on the water, a raft or piece of plastic. Amusement park slides can be hundreds of feet tall, madly steep or elaborately twisted, while a simple slide into a city pool is great fun as well. There are also sliding games to use in your back yard. Forget your troubles, scream your head off and burn significant calories plunging down a slide. Then race back to the top and start again.

Swimming, fishing, snorkeling, skiing, surfing! So many enjoyable and often low-cost water sports. Swimming works your heart and all your muscles including the small ones, without putting pressure on your joints. While fit folks like Olympian Michael Phelps thrill to swim, if you are arthritic or portly plump, a pool may be the perfect choice for you as well. If you have a heart condition, though, skip the icy "polar dip".

Answer: Line dancing

Line dancing probably came from European square dancing, but much of it today is tied to country-and-western music, like the "Cowboy Boogie" and "Cowboy Motion", though the 1970s disco "Electric Slide" went worldwide, and "Swamp Thang" is techno, so whatever music you like, you can probably find line dancing to it.

Basically regular folks line up in rows, all facing front, and together they perform foot patterns of about 15 to 25 steps. As a newcomer you can just follow the dancers to the sides and front of you, or you can learn the steps ahead of time. John Travolta does a mighty fine line dance in the films "Saturday Night Fever" and "Michael". Fitness benefits of line dancing include a mental endorphin lift, increased brain health, stronger heart, calorie burn (studies show dancing burns more than jogging by far), better balance, and a healthy libido! It's also a social connection which has great mental and physical health benefits.

Answer: Bowling

Ten-pin bowling, played by cartoon characters Fred Flintstone and his buddy Barney as well as millions of humans, involves rolling a ball down a lane to knock over ten pins. It is thought to be 4,000 years old, invented by the Greeks and Romans. This game tones, stretches and flexes the upper body during the swing of the ball, while it strengthens thighs and buttocks.

The typical player walks about 3/5ths of a mile during 3 games, so it's a decent calorie burner too. Bowling is for people of any age and is low-risk, as well as providing important social life. Concentration and focus needed for score keeping, and aiming and throwing the ball stimulates hand-eye coordination, mental alertness and refined motor skill.

Other types of pin bowling are candlepin, duckpin and five-pin. "Target" bowling is a related but different type, just as fun and healthy. Fred Flintstone, by the way, took ballet lessons to improve his bowling game.

Many sports athletes take ballet, too.

Answer: Gardening

Many studies show that gardening has wonderful fitness benefits because it requires that we walk, stretch, use our arms and hands, bend, and lift, all while in a relaxed state of mind. Be sure to use equipment such as knee pads, gloves, raised beds, and grown grandchildren for jobs that ask too much of your body, such as lifting heavy bags of soil. Does riding a mower count? Sure. You get off and on several times, soak up some sun and relax--all good for you. To lower costs join a gardening club or ask a neighbor for "shares" of plants. If you don't have a plot, work in a local "community garden" where the city provides free garden plots if you'll give the less fortunate part of your produce.

Some people advertise free use of their land in trade for produce, as well.

There's gardening exercise available everywhere.

Answer: Race for a cure

A fitness-related fundraiser is an activity such as a run, walk, or bicycling event organized to raise money for a non-profit or charity, such as the Susan G. Komen "Race for the Cure", started in 1983 to help cure cancer. After research showed people donate more to a cause if they suffer just a bit (the "martyrdom effect"), events took on new life. Now I can dump ice over my head or jump into a freezing lake. Happily a 5-mile walk has much to offer. Your "sponsors" donate funds that support women's shelters, animal welfare, disease research, world food programs or some other humanitarian effort. What you get is an excellent aerobic workout--steady walking, running or cycling--among a horde of like-minded friends. Do wear good shoes, sunglasses, sunblock and a hat. Your lungs, heart and legs will thank you for it.

Answer: Fly a kite

Go fly a kite! Flying a kite has interesting fitness benefits, other than the obvious running or walking. Gazing skyward exercises eye muscles and nerves, the neck stretches upward, the spine, ligaments and joints are flexed and the arms and hands push-pull, push-pull for increased strength. Mental fitness benefits include creativity, relaxation, the uplift of nature, family fun, and the joy and beauty of kites. In some countries, especially in Asia, kite flying is a competitive sport. If you prefer not to fly a kite, take your camera to a "skydancing" event and get your fitness work out that way.

The photo is of a magnificent bird called the black kite.

Answer: Hula hoop

The modern hula hoop was named after Hawaiian "hula" dancer hip movements, but around the world hoops have been made of dried plants, grasses and grapevines for thousands of years. Native American Hoop Dance is an ancient storytelling dance using many hoops at once, which requires intense fitness.

In the early 2000s the "hoop jam" was invented, and in 2013 nearly 4,500 people hooped together for seven minutes in Thailand. For your purposes though buy a single plastic hoop for a few dollars, fling it around your hips and get fit! The hula hoop is often cited among the best exercises because it reduces tummy and waist fat, burns calories, increases muscle, tones hips, and streamlines those thighs.

It also increases flexibility, and it is fun and simple.

There are hooping classes too, if you want to try that.

Answer: Agility

Agility training is where dogs and their human "handlers" run an obstacle course or take on various jumps, as in this case, through hoops. Dogs must first learn basic obedience, but most find it thrilling and satisfying to do agility, as well as the joy of play and accomplishment at the side of their person. If you take an "agility" course with your dog then regularly you'll walk, run, bend, lift, give hand signals and perhaps set up agility courses as well, plus your practice at home. Riding or caretaking horses, keeping chickens, hiking, hunting, herding, bird watching and yes, "goat yoga" are other ways to get fit around critters. Neither you nor your animals should be out in extreme weather, go without water, or over-do it.

Answer: Flexible

Basketball is one of the most popular games in the world, and available to nearly everyone of any age. Promoting a sense of belonging and teaching teamwork skills, physically basketball is demanding, though not so much aerobically as on the joints. You'll stop, start, turn, twist, and leap during this game, over and over. It's essential you clear it with your doctor before you start regular play, make sure the basket hoop is at a good height for your age, establish team rules like no shoving, and wear stable footwear. Drink plenty of water, and be the cat--stretch, stretch, stretch. This game will give you awesome thighs.

Other fitness activities you can play free or low-cost include skip rope, soccer, softball, football and Frisbee. In snowy winters you can slide downhill, build a snowman, ice skate, and play hockey.