Cold Weather Exercise
I’m a wimp when it comes to the cold weather! As soon as the temperature drops below 50°F, I kiss my outdoor exercise options goodbye. It’s then that I head for the warmth of my home gym to continue my pursuit of better health.
For those of you who do not have treadmills, stationary bicycles, and/or elliptical trainers available to you, getting some mid-winter cardiovascular exercise can be difficult. I have a few ideas for you that can keep your aerobic training consistent even as the temperatures outside plummet.
If you enjoy walking as a form of exercise when the weather conditions are conducive, why not try mall walking? Malls across America provide great, long straightaways, a climate-controlled environment, and are well lit and safe to boot. To keep the slow-moving people and baby stroller obstacles to a minimum, arrive first thing in the morning, just as the mall opens for business, or a half an hour before it’s set to close. Lace up your trainers and off you go!
Another enjoyable form of cardiovascular exercise well-suited for the indoor arena is ball aerobics. The proper size exercise ball for you is one in which—when you are seated on it—aligns the height of your knee with the height of your hip (this positions your thigh parallel with the floor). Turn on some upbeat music and begin bouncing in the seated position. Add some varied arm movements, some weight shifting maneuvers, and viola, your heart rate will begin to rise.
Finally, incorporate non-traditional exercise by taking the stairs instead of elevators, cleaning your house in a “double-time mode”, or dancing around the house to music. Any way you can get your heart rate to rise (to the point where your breathing is a bit heavier) and maintain it there for 15-30 minutes makes for a solid exercise session. Research still shows that 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic exercise provides the greatest health benefit for your body, mind, and I would argue, soul, too!