(Newswire.net — October 27, 2016) — Staying active during the winter months can be a challenge – cold, wet weather is discouraging and even dangerous to runners and cyclists, while sports like tennis, soccer, or golf are relegated to warmer weather conditions. What can you do, then, to stay fit when snow covers the ground? Winter calls for a dose of athletic creativity.
There are many activities you can participate in during the winter, and often they’ll feel more like play than exercise – and that’s okay! Enjoy participating in these four activities this winter. You’ll be taking care of yourself, body and soul.
Hit the Slopes
When it comes to winter sports, one of the most traditional activities you can participate in is skiing, both downhill and cross-country, and though downhill skiing typically requires you to travel some distance to an accommodating park or resort, you can enjoy cross-country skiing right in your own neighborhood if you own the right equipment.
Cross-country skiing is a great activity for runners hoping to stay in shape, but who would prefer to avoid the treadmill because it’s a high endurance sport that builds both upper and lower body muscle groups. Just be sure to warm up well before you strap on your skis, as this intense activity can leave you vulnerable to muscle strains.
It’s a Goal!
Another traditional winter athletic activity is hockey, but you’ll need a team – or at least a group of friends – to get the most out of this activity. For many people, however, this is ideal; where in the spring you might play pickup basketball at the park with friends, during the winter, hockey can fill the gap.
Besides spending time with friends, playing hockey can help you build core strength, as you’ll need strong abdominals to balance on skates, but hockey is an all-around workout. Increasing your agility with a hockey stick and puck will, for example, work your arms and boost hand-eye coordination.
Hockey can be something of an investment, so make sure you read product reviews when buying skates and other gear. You’ll also need to reserve rink time, unless you have a local (and safe to skate on) pond. You can’t just start a game of hockey in the middle of dozens of ice skaters!
It’s an Uphill Climb
If you have young children in your family, they probably love going sledding during the winter. But when they drag their sleds up that hill, are you standing on the sidelines? It’s time to join them! Hiking up a snow-covered hill is a great workout and takes a lot more strength than walking up that hill when it’s covered with spring grass. Think of sledding as the new cardio.
Make sure you’re especially attentive to proper winter dress when heading outside with your kids. Rather than bundling them into a snowsuit, dress in lots of light layers of clothing and make sure everyone keeps their hat, scarf, and gloves on. This is especially important on windy days when the wind chill factor can make exposed flesh more vulnerable to frostbite.
Staying Fireside
Finally, for those disinclined to head outside during the coldest months, there are plenty of activities you can engage in while keeping warm. Yoga and pilates, for example, can be done at home or with a class at the gym; yoga will keep you flexible while pilates is the perfect activity for those seeking increased strength and improved balance. What’s more, if you’re new to these practices, you can even take your introductory lessons from a DVD or online video.
Winter doesn’t have to be a string of lazy days curled up by the fire drinking cocoa when there are plenty of ways to stay active, especially if you’re willing to try something new. As the days get cooler, think about what activities you’d like to participate in this year and recruit others to join you – fitness is more fun with friends!