4 Ways to Beat the Winter Workout Blues
Today’s post is written by Megan Gates, outreach representative for Gym Source, a retailer of home gyms and other exercise and fitness equipment. Megan contributes written work to the blogosphere related to health and fitness.
For many of us who live in climates that experience a true winter, this is the most difficult time of year to get fit. Around the holidays, many women resolve to eat healthier and get their bodies back into shape, but as we all know, festivities almost always mean rich food and excessive eating—leaving you a few pounds heavier in the New Year. Here are a few tips for staying fit this winter if you don’t want to compete for the exercise equipment at your gym with all those people working on their New Years’ resolutions!
4 Fun Winter Workout Ideas
1. It’s okay to work out at home. There are an assortment of new ways to work out at home. In fact, many of these home workouts can be more interesting and complete than running on a treadmill at the gym! The Wii Fit is one such workout. The Wii Fit offers games in strength training, yoga, aerobics and balance. Not to worry, the Wii Fit does not simply take you through the motions, it gets to know your body. Before you begin your exercise, the program will prompt you to enter such personals as height, age, weight and sex. Then you step on the balance board for your first weigh in. The Wii Fit can also be personalized to keep track of your individual weight-loss goals and BMI. Many of the Wii Fit activities are targeted toward strengthening your core muscles, as well as improving your balance. The Wii Fit acts as a personal trainer for those who don’t feel like braving the cold and snow to exercise in a crowded gym. Also, check out how awesome the Kinect is!
2. Keep it, ahem, interesting. Another way to stay fit and warm this winter is by trying saucy pole dancing and strip-tease workouts. In the last three years, pole dancing has been plugged by many celebrities as a spicy way to improve your fitness and create an incredible body. Pole dancing and strip-tease workouts emphasize stretching, proper breathing, and toning of your abs, chest muscles and arms. These workouts have become increasingly popular and can be done alone at home or with friends in a class setting.
3. Dance it out. If you prefer fast-paced dance and high-energy music to stay in shape and beat the winter blues, look no further than Zumba. Zumba is quickly becoming one of the most popular fitness crazes. Zumba is a dance workout that involves moving to energetic Latin music like salsa, merengue and samba. The specific workout moves back and forth between toning and cardio. Because Zumba has gained such popularity, classes are offered daily at most local gyms, and there are a wide selection of Zumba workout DVDs that can be used in the comfort of your home.
4. Take a class with a friend. Working out with a friend can motivate you to get out from underneath the warm cozy blanket. Pilates and yoga are excellent low-impact forms of exercise that strengthen and tone your body and can be done in your home or taken in a class setting. The primary focus of Pilates is toning the core muscles, which include the lower back, abs and the stabilizing muscles. Yoga increases flexibility, posture and improves balance by stretching and bending. Another important benefit of yoga is meditation. Whether reading a book, using an instructional DVD or attending a class, elements of meditation, stress relief and relaxation are always incorporated.
What’s your favorite winter workout? For additional information on exercise, check out more Gym Source fitness tips. —Megan Gates