Winter can be a challenging time to stay motivated with your fitness routine. The cold weather, shorter days, and holiday indulgences can easily derail your goals. However, it’s important to remain active during the winter months, not only for your physical health but also for your mental well-being. Exercise can boost your mood and energy levels, helping to combat the winter blues.
Here are five surprising and effective ways to heat up your winter fitness routine and keep you moving all season long:
1. Embrace the Heat: Hot Mat Pilates
When the temperature drops, why not turn up the heat, literally? Hot Mat Pilates takes your regular Pilates routine and cranks it up a notch in a heated studio. Infrared heating panels warm the room to 30-35 degrees Celsius, providing a full-body burn that will leave you sweating instead of shivering.
Benefits of Hot Mat Pilates
- Increased Flexibility: The heat warms your muscles, allowing for a greater range of motion and deeper stretches.
- Detoxification: Sweating helps flush out toxins from your body.
- Improved Circulation: The heat can improve blood flow, promoting muscle recovery and reducing stiffness.
- Calorie Burning: Working out in a heated environment can increase your calorie expenditure.
2. Get Competitive Indoors: Padel and Pickleball
Trade in your outdoor summer sports for indoor racquet sports like Padel and Pickleball. These fast-paced, engaging games offer a great mix of cardio and coordination, making them perfect for staying active during the winter.
Why Padel and Pickleball?
- Full-Body Workout: These sports engage various muscle groups, improving your strength, agility, and mental focus.
- Social Activity: Playing with friends or joining a league can provide motivation and make exercise more enjoyable.
- Year-Round Fun: Indoor facilities allow you to play regardless of the weather.
3. Take to the Air: Bungee Fitness
Looking for a low-impact workout that works your entire body? Bungee fitness will literally put a spring in your step. Using bungee cords for resistance and support, this unique workout involves exercises like squats, jumps, and burpees – all while you’re airborne.
Bungee Fitness Benefits
- Low Impact: The bungee cords reduce the impact on your joints, making it a great option for those with joint pain or injuries.
- Full-Body Workout: Bungee fitness improves strength and endurance by engaging muscles you didn’t even know you had.
- Fun and Engaging: Taking your fitness to new heights with bungee fitness brings fun back to group exercise.
4. Roll Into Fitness: Roller Skating
Roller skating isn’t just for kids! Combining roller skating with fitness exercises and dancing is a fantastic way to roll out of winter with a smile on your face. RollerFit classes offer a range of options for all skill levels, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned skater.
Why Roller Skating?
- Cardio and Strength: Roller skating provides a great cardio workout while also strengthening your legs and core.
- Coordination and Balance: Skating improves your coordination and balance.
- Tap Into Your Inner Child: Rediscover the joy of skating and foster a positive relationship with movement, play, and exercise.
5. Martial Arts: Jiu-Jitsu
Martial arts such as Jiu-Jitsu offer a unique and challenging way to stay fit during the winter months. These disciplines combine physical and mental training, providing a comprehensive workout that builds strength, endurance, and self-discipline.
Benefits of Jiu-Jitsu
- Full-Body Workout: Jiu-Jitsu engages every muscle group in your body, improving your overall strength and conditioning.
- Mental Toughness: Martial arts training builds mental toughness and resilience.
- Self-Defense Skills: Learn valuable self-defense techniques while getting in shape.
- Community: Joining a martial arts gym provides a supportive community of like-minded individuals.
General Tips to Stay Motivated
In addition to these surprising workout ideas, here are some general tips to help you stay motivated and active throughout the winter:
Set Realistic Goals
Start by setting small, achievable goals that feel right for the season. Winter can be more about maintaining your fitness and feeling good rather than pushing for big gains or intense goals. Decide on manageable goals like working out three times a week or moving for 20 minutes a day so they feel achievable.
Create a Winter Routine
Decide on a time that suits your energy levels and lifestyle—like in the morning, during lunch, or in the evening—and stay consistent. Put your workouts on your schedule so you have no excuses. If it’s already planned, it’s easier to follow through.
Dress for the Weather
If you plan to work out outside, layer up your clothing to stay comfortable and dry as it can make winter exercise much more enjoyable. When you step out the door, you should actually feel kind of cold. Dress in removable layers. Make sure the base layer is made of dry-fit, moisture-wicking materials. Those fabrics will pull perspiration away from your body and keep you as dry as possible. And don’t forget a hat to keep warmth in.
Warm-Up Properly
Cold weather makes muscles tighter, which can increase your risk of injury. To help prevent this, start every workout with a warm-up, especially if you’re outside. Spend 5–10 minutes doing dynamic stretches or gentle movements like walking in place, jumping jacks, or arm circles to get your blood flowing and prepare your muscles. A good warm-up loosens up your body, reduces stiffness, and gets you ready for the main part of your workout.
Find a Workout Buddy
Train with a friend or colleague to have someone to motivate you. You can encourage each other to stick with it.
Reward Yourself
Staying active in winter deserves a celebration! Treat yourself when you hit small milestones — have a seasonal-spiced herbal tea after a workout or become your own DJ and make a fun, feel-good playlist to exercise to. Rewards can make the experience more enjoyable and give you something to look forward to.
Make It Fun
Play your favorite music, wear your favorite workout outfit, and turn your workout into a celebration! When you feel good starting your workout, you’ll be more likely to keep going!
Be Flexible
Maybe your usual routine isn’t working in winter – that’s okay! It’s time to adapt: Experiment with different workout times to find what feels best. Try indoor alternatives to your usual outdoor activities. Keep a backup plan ready for those “too cold to function” days.
Embrace Indoor Workouts
You don’t have to face the bitter cold to stay active. Try to embrace the benefits of being at home – avoiding the icy winds or rain, listening to your own music or podcasts on speakers, wearing your dressing gown until you warm up, or being flexible with timings as there’s no need to wait for good weather or daylight to get moving.
Don’t Let a Missed Workout Derail You
Don’t let one missed workout derail your entire routine. Have a plan for getting back on track quickly. Remember: progress isn’t about perfection.
Acknowledge the Winter Slump
It’s completely normal to feel less motivated during winter. Those dark mornings and chilly evenings aren’t exactly screaming “let’s work out!” But acknowledging this challenge is the first step to overcoming it.
Stay Hydrated
You’re not necessarily thinking about your hydration as much in the winter as you are in the summer, but it’s still very important to stay hydrated.
Set Specific Workout Times
Set specific workout times and treat them like important appointments. Use a fitness tracking app to maintain accountability.
Don’t let the winter blues get the best of you. By incorporating these surprising and effective fitness ideas into your routine, you can stay active, healthy, and energized all season long. So, get creative, stay motivated, and make this winter your fittest one yet!
