The long, dark, and sometimes bone-chilling cold days of winter can make it hard to keep up with our fitness routines. We’d love nothing more than to lace up our sneaks and step out for a quick run, but the biting wind and shivering cold can be a seriously formidable foe.
You want to keep up your movement practice because you know how much better you feel when you do. This is especially important during the winter season when many of us are fighting illness, trying to stave off seasonal depression, and are still recovering from the mayhem that was the holiday season.
What can you do to heat up your winter movement practice? We’ve got five solid tips that can get you back on the mat, in the saddle, and or onto those snowy streets.
Use a heater in your at-home workout space
One of the easiest ways to make it easier to move during cold weather is to literally heat up your workout space. Radiant parabolic space heaters like this one are especially effective as they closely mimic the exact feeling of laying in full sun. They work perfectly to warm up your body and help you get in the mood for movement.
If you have a programmable thermostat, use that to your advantage, too. Set the heat to kick up a notch or two 30-60 minutes before your planned workout session. This will create a toasty environment that won’t feel as shocking or unwelcoming, especially right out of bed.
Spring for winter workout clothes
If one of your movement routines is to get outside and run, jog, hike, or walk, then you owe it to yourself to get equipped with gear that will keep you moving, no matter the weather.
Quality winter performance apparel can be quite pricey, it’s true. But here’s the thing. You don’t have to buy an outfit for every day of the week. It’s absolutely fine to take your walk or run in the same clothes over (and over!) again in the same week. Stock yourself up with 1-3 high-quality outdoor performance pieces and test their limits with regular and hardcore use.
To make this stock up even more friendly to your wallet, consider buying just one piece to wear up top, like a super warm fleece or jacket, and several pairs of leggings or joggers that can be thrown in the laundry bin after use.
Book classes in your favourite fitness studio
Committing to attend a movement session with your favourite local studio is a great way to keep up with your fitness and movement routine throughout the winter season. Once you’ve signed up, you’ve taken a huge first step and are far more likely to get those movement sessions in, multiple times a week.
At VIPilates we open our schedule up on a term time basis. That means that right now, you can sign up for sessions that will get you booked and committed to your practice for the next term So go ahead, click our schedule here and get yourself signed up for sessions that will take you right through the winter season.
Get an Accountability Partner
Let’s say you told yourself that you were going to exercise 3 days this week. On day 3, your alarm goes off, it’s particularly cold outside, and you are not feeling it. So you hit snooze and stay snuggled in bed.
Let’s look at that scenario when you and your bestie have committed to keeping each other moving throughout the cold days of winter. You may wave off working out when you are only letting yourself down, but you will rise to the occasion when you have your friend’s feelings in mind.
Find someone in your circle who wants to stay active and moving this season and partner up! You can keep each other motivated and accountable during this time of year.
Did you know we have duet sessions designed especially for dynamic duos? Learn more about booking sessions for you and your workout partner here.
We know how hard it can be to keep your movement practice going in the winter. We also know how powerful having an accountability partner can be. That is why we are offering a special Dynamic Duos Deal that is only good this winter season. Click here to learn the details.
Choose a special type of movement especially for winter
They say variety is the spice of life. Leverage the human response to novelty in your favour by changing up your movement routine just for the winter months. That way, instead of the mindset that you “have to” get up and workout, you “get to” get up and do that special something that is not normally on the table. Here are a few ideas that may inspire you.
Find a place to swim in a heated pool
Join an ice skating club
Find a local cross-country skiing group
Take early morning hot yoga sessions at a local studio
Your body, mind, and soul cannot stand to hibernate all winter long. Keep your movement practice going all season so you can feel your best and get the most out of your day, no matter what temperature the thermometer dips down into.
We are here to help you keep your movement practice going! Check out our current schedule and sign up for sessions that will keep you warm and healthy this winter season.
Love Sarah X
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