My Clients find it hard to exercise during the winter months. I think it's a challenge for most people. It can be difficult with changing weather, shorter days with less daylight, low moods, stress over the holiday season and cold and flu bugs we tend to pick up more frequently during the winter months. Thankfully, with some creativity, winter can be a great time to exercise. I really enjoy exercising in the winter since the air is cooler I find it really refreshing and uplifting. Exercise is vitally important for good health and good moods. Here is a few suggestions for exercising in the winter that you may not have thought of.
Walking- Still possible during the winter months. Wear boots instead of sneakers if needed and bundle up in comfortable layers. If the sides of the road are unsafe for travel then one can drive to a dirt road or trail in the woods that snowmobiles and other ATVs travel on and walk in their tracks. Walk in the town/city closest to you where sidewalks are routinely cleared. Several gyms have indoor walking tracks for the really bad days.
Most roads are routinely cleared and possible to walk on just make sure to practice caution around snow plows.
Ice Skating- Strap on some skates and hit the nearest rink, pond or ice surface. Most rinks have free or affordable designated times for public skating. It could be during your lunch hour, after work or in the evening. Just make sure to be super safe when dealing with outdoor ice surfaces. I found several pairs of second hand skates online while looking for myself this winter starting at $15.00.
Snowshoeing- Snowshoes can be purchased for various prices from the old fashioned wooden-framed shoes to high end shoes fabricated from man-made materials. Being able to stay on top of the snow is a huge advantage and enables you to walk longer distances without tiring.
Snowboarding and Downhill skiing- It's never to late to learn. A great way to get outside, enjoy the winter weather and exercise! You will use muscles you did not even realize you had. Embracing winter sports can certainly make the winter seem shorter, you may even be wishing for more than less snow come March.
Cross Country skiing- Again a great way to get outside, once you start cross country skiing you won't want to stop. Most hiking trails are great for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. We have our dog pull us on the cross country skis, a sport called skijorring. Here is a link of a video right here-John and Dio skijorring video.
Swimming- I'm not encouraging anyone to try a polar dip this year. Most indoor pools have designated times for public swimming. You could try going before work, during your lunch hour or after work.
Yoga- A great way to exercise all year, yoga can be done anytime anywhere. You can take a class to meet some new people, help with motivation and receive proper instruction. If you are a practiced Yogi then you know how easy it is to roll out the mat and either work up a sweat or gently unwind.
Train like a boxer- Yes boxers do jog but they also skip, use a speed bag and a heavy bag. All of these are indoor activities that can easily be set up in your basement. A skipping rope is a great investment and you can usually get a weighted one for about $15-$20 bucks. Skipping is a great cardio workout. Using a speed and/or heavy bag can be an empowering experience that is also a great workout especially for the arms.
Move- Throw on some tunes and dance, jog in the spot, do jumping jacks or just act silly. Easy and free! Great for lifting the mood.
Hit the mat- Sit-ups, push-ups and stretching. Use your body for resistance.
Indoor Exercise equipment- Lift weights, use a rebounder (a small trampoline), stationary bike, bike trainer(a device to hold your mountain bike stationary while you peddle), Nordic trainer, treadmill and the list goes on.
There are so many products on the market available for indoor exercising. You can get a membership to a gym and use all the equipment they have to offer.
Find something that you like. If you don't enjoy your exercise routine then chances are you won't do it.
Skijorring with my Buddy last Winter.
Love the pic of Dio!!
ReplyDelete