How To Stay Active In Winter
Getting and staying active in the winter months can keep you warm, but can also help beat heart disease. Yoga is an excellent winter fitness activity because you can do it almost anywhere, the barriers to getting started are low, and there are a lot of resources, in-person and online, that will help motivate you. It may be hard to keep up with regular fitness activities in the wintry weather, but there are still fun exercises for staying active during the winter. As you enjoy this comfortable season, it is important to find ways to work around the weather and still get in a workout.
When the weather gets colder outdoors, we tend to spend more time inside doing sedentary activities, and staying active can be hard. Freezing cold weather and longer hours of darkness can make going to the gym or exercising outdoors seem like an even more challenging endeavour. We know how difficult it is to keep up with an exercise routine during the winter, especially for anyone who does not have a gym membership. The winter months may pose challenges for maintaining an exercise routine, but they do not have to be.
If you are ready to brave the cold, walking is still a great activity to continue in the cold. Being physically active is important all year long, but colder, winter months may pose challenges when it comes to staying active. During the winter months, you should still be able to find a workout that gets you up from your bed; whether it is completing a circuit on your stationary bike, or getting outside to enjoy some of the great outdoors and take advantage of some of the enjoyment winter sports can provide.
When it comes to being active, pick activities you will enjoy, which can help keep physical activity as a part of your routine year-round. Fitness classes not only will help you stay fit, they can also keep you motivated during the winter months. They are also good winter activities to do with friends, who can motivate more engagement with your winter fitness routines in groups.
Traditional winter activities such as skating and hockey, and indoor sports like basketball, tennis, and dance are some other caloric-burning workouts that you might like. Activities like basketball, football, skating, swimming, climbing, walking/climbing stairs, and stationary machines such as treadmills, stationary bikes, or ellipticals are all excellent aerobic challenges.
If exercising in the cold simply is not something you are ready to commit to, then indoor swimming may be an excellent cardio choice. Plus, being active in water is a convenient way to ease back into exercising if you have not been active in some time.
You might not think about this either, due to the weather, but staying hydrated is essential while exercising, so make sure to pack a lot of water. It is as important to stay hydrated while exercising in winter as in summer, although you might not feel quite as thirsty.
In fact, exercising in cool weather has a few clear advantages over exercising in warmer weather. Staying active during the winter does not mean that you need to commit solely to a high-intensity workout routine that keeps you indoors.
Some people enjoy facing the cold head-on and staying active in the winter with skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, skating, and other seasonal fitness hobbies. Whether you have been an avid outdoors person for years, or have just recently started a new fitness routine, the frigid temperatures and sleazy weather in winter drive many people indoors during the season. The season really can be quite disruptive for people’s exercise routines.
Winters may be cold and dark, but with proper training and equipment, seniors can safely enjoy exercising outside. You may want to try at-home exercise classes, local indoor fitness events, or even take advantage of the unexpected benefits of exercising safely outdoors during the winter months. As the seasons turn, try new outdoor activities like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. If outdoor exercises are more your thing, consider indoor exercises as a good way to shake things up in your routine and get your body working differently from what it normally does.
For the most active events, such as running, hiking, or cross-country skiing, think about layers you can remove and re-add later, which will let you balance body heat that is rising with air temperatures that are cooler. When it is cold and drizzly outside, the best approach is to dress in layers; this way, you can start snug and warm, and take some winter gear off when you are warming your body. Condition yourself through exercise; stretch before exercising or doing household chores, particularly when the conditions are cold; and ensure that you are dressed appropriately for the weather, so that you stay warm and shed layers if needed, and that you can safely navigate slippery surfaces. If you have had a heart attack or stroke, speak to your healthcare provider before starting any exercise program so that you are following a safe, effective exercise plan.
Cold days and long nights can make getting out of bed, much less moving the body, difficult, but there are easy ways to stay motivated when the weather outside is scary. Yes, it may be tough to be motivated when the wind is howling or snow is falling, but do not discount any ideas of staying active — inside or out. While the weather outside may sometimes be scary, you can still go out for some fresh air and exercise when the sun is shining or snow is falling gently. While skiing, snowboarding, or even sledding can be a lot of fun, there is no question that it is a major calorie burner, too.
A popular option across the nation, skating is a common winter activity that can be done on a variety of levels, ranging from the laid-back pleasure of slipping around on the rink to more intense applications such as speed skating, or even as part of playing hockey. Walking your dogs, and just running a few errands on your feet can all help give you a bit of occasional aerobic exercise. You might want to use the colder, darker months to focus on restorative activities that are easier on your body than running or some other type of exercise.
Feature Image by Terri Sharp from Pixabay
