4 Ways to Exercise More This WinterBy Jenny Ferguson [Fitness]
|
||
How can you use the winter weather to your advantage? Jenny Ferguson reveals four great options for exercising when it’s cold out.  As the weather starts to sour and the days grow shorter, those of us who have been enjoying the great outdoors as part of our exercise regime have to find alternative ways to exercise. I’m not a member of a gym, so when autumn gets too cold for me to exercise happily, I tend to hibernate. Not this winter. Here are four ideas to incorporate more exercise into the winter months.You’ve Always Wanted to Try It Think of the one sport or activity that you’ve always wanted to try, but haven’t for a variety of reasons. Maybe you’ve been too busy, maybe it involves specialized equipment or maybe you haven't found time to schedule a beginner’s lesson. This winter, I’m planning on signing up for some sort of martial arts lessons. I haven’t narrowed down my choices yet, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to try. Plus, the martial arts are great for discipline (important in any exercise regime), posture, building and maintaining muscles, and its looks like a lot of fun. The idea is to fit exercise into my week. It might be dark and cold, but I’ve got an appointment to keep. Consider taking dance lessons (Latin, ballroom or something funky like crumping), explore one of the martial arts or take a weekly yoga class. Plan to brave the great outdoors in order to treat yourself to something new. Take Advantage of the Weather Plan a variety of outdoor activities this year. Harness the weather; it can actually work in your favour. Make it a habit to shovel the driveway. Do your neighbour’s driveway every once in a while to keep that winter workout going. If you own a snow blower, leave it in the garage this winter. Schedule one of many winter sports every week: take the kids skating, plan a ski or snowboarding weekend with your friends or go tobogganing at the local hill. Snowshoeing or cross-country skiing can be done just about anywhere and the equipment is relatively cheap to rent. Find a local pick up game of hockey. Check your area arenas or form your own Saturday morning team. Hockey equipment can be pricey, but check out a secondhand sports shop for some deals. Winter hiking is a sport that not too many people consider. Many trails you visit in the summer are open year round. The scenery changes drastically, and it’s worth getting out there for a good look. I want to take a dog sledding trip this year. While it may not look like hard work, it is. There are overnight camping trips as well as day excursions for those who like to be indoors, toasty and warm at night. |
||
| NEXTContinued on next page... | ||
|
||
|
||
