Don’t give your workouts the cold shoulder during the winter months. While snow, ice and freezing cold temperatures may leave you feeling like you don’t want to get out of bed or off the couch, look at this season as an opportunity to change-up your workout routine, whether you decide to try a new class at the gym, try out a winter sport or even try working out at home! Don’t catch the winter blues, cheer up and take notes on how to stay fit during the winter months!
1. Try a new class
If you’re a loyal (or not) gym member, it’s time to step out of your routine workout plan, and dive into a new and exciting class. I love recommending friends and clients try a class that is offered at their gym because it challenges their bodies (and muscles) in different ways than their regular routine. Whether it’s a body pump class, zumba, or a spin class, make an effort to step out of your comfort zone. You might even make a few new friends along the way!
2. Warm up with hot yoga
If you just can’t seem to warm up during the cold winter months, hot yoga is a great way to strengthen and lengthen your muscles, not to mention warm up the body! If you haven’t tried hot yoga before, try a few slow flow classes beforehand, to prepare your body for when you do decide to take a hot power yoga or Bikram class. Be sure to hydrate and replenish electrolytes peri and post yoga. I personally drink and recommend Vega Sport Electrolyte Hydrator in my water during sweaty gym or yoga sessions to keep me hydrated and happy!
3. Outdoor playtime
Skiing (downhill AND cross-country), snowboarding, skating and snow-shoeing are all popular winter sports for those of us who live in climates that are cold enough for snow. Not only are these sports fun, but they are fantastic workouts, especially for your legs and core muscles! If you haven’t had the opportunity to engage in any of these winter activities, I highly recommend you do. If not, try something as simple as sledding, tobogganing or even shovelling snow—your parents, roommate, or significant other will thank me later! Just be sure to dress warm, in sweat-wicking layers to stay safe, while not freezing OR overheating.
4. Get creative with at-home workouts
Cold blizzard days that confine you to your home shouldn’t be thought of as days off from working out. Learn to look at your home or apartment as a gym in its own right. I like to use my stairwell to climb stairs, or my kitchen table chairs to do triceps dips on. Check out my top at-home workout moves include squats, push-ups, lunges and planks that you can do inside your own home! If you want to add weights to your at-home workout, try using soup cans, water bottles or water jugs! You can also roll out your yoga mat and watch a DVD or YouTube video for some inspiration!
Avoid having the winter season discourage you from working out; instead, use the four seasons to your advantage. Consistently changing your workouts is not only fun, but it allows you to use your body in different ways, challenging different muscles and maybe even discovering a passion for a sport of activity that you didn’t realize you were talented at or enjoyed so much! Try to get a friend or family member to join you while you work out, because two fit bodies are better than one!
Stay warm!
Written by: Jessica Morris
Originally published: www.myvega.com
