Moving your body is the first, and probably most obvious, line of defense when it comes to staying healthy, feeling good, and preventing illness. But as rhythms and routines change with each passing season, you may find it tough to find the right fitness regimen that’s easy to stick to. We’re kicking off a blog series to help with that: looking at the month ahead, we’ve got tips and tricks to integrate more movement into your daily life while keeping the reality of all that your schedule may throw at you in mind.
For December in most parts of the U.S. the massive drop or change in temperature makes us all want to cozy up (and preferably stay that way!). And as you get older, you may even find that the colder weather doesn’t just make it hard to motivate movement—it might be painful to take the neighborhood walk or outside stretch that you’re used to as cold weather works against muscle and joint movement. The good news is that we’ve got a few creative ways to stay active even when Jack Frost comes to town:
Find Your New Favorite Fitness Routine with Online Coaches
If you want to move your movement indoors, December is the perfect month to try out something new. Ever wanted to learn to salsa, master that challenging yoga pose, or try out the latest Pilates workout your friend’s been raving about? Take a chance to be a beginner at something you’ve always wanted to try from the comfort of your home—who knows, you may end up finding your next favorite exercise plan from a simple YouTube tutorial! And if you’re a WeShare Member, your access to Fitbod’s online workout routines can be tailored to fit your fitness level in different seasons.
Heat Up Your Cool Down with Sauna Bathing
When the weather outside is frightful, is there anything that sounds more delightful than unwinding your muscles in a steam-filled room? While saunas have dominated spa-culture and can be seen as more of a “treat” for your physical wellness, they provide a host of benefits for your cardiovascular, nervous, and immune systems. Brief exposure to higher temperatures can help you reduce your risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and pulmonary disease, as well as increase motor function, cognitive function, and lower stress levels.[1]
If you’re a WeShare Member, your access to Active&Fit Direct means you can join a gym or fitness center with sauna capability—all at an affordable monthly rate and no contracts. Active&Fit Direct is also a great way to try out different fitness centers to see if they’re the best fit for you.
Prioritize Lower Impact Exercise in Colder Months
High impact exercising in cold weather can lead to loss of body heat more quickly and trouble when cooling sweat brings down your body temp. Additionally, if you’ve got an autoimmune condition, arthritis, or exercise induced asthma, exercising outdoors in cold weather actually may not be as beneficial to your health. [2] If you love exercising outdoors, it may be better to choose activities that don’t raise your heart rate as quickly. Swap out your sprints for a longer hike with varying elevations, pause the HIIT for focused muscle training like Barre or Tai Chi, or take the opportunity to tackle those outdoor projects you put off when it was too hot.
Altogether, winter weather doesn’t have to slow down any of your health and wellness goals. Let us know if you try any of these tips and tricks as you keep up the good work all December long.
