How To Stay Active In the Winter

When days get shorter and temperatures drop, it’s tempting to stay indoors and snuggle up with a toasty blanket. But research shows that consistent movement—even as little as 15 minutes per day—can help boost your mood. Here are a few tips to keep moving your body and mind this winter.

Join a local sports league

During the winter, many city parks, recreational programs, and community gyms offer pickup basketball games or sponsor indoor badminton, volleyball, or pickleball leagues. Whether you’re an experienced athlete or trying something new, playing with a group can help you squeeze more movement into your routine and introduce you to new friends along the way.

Make your workouts virtual

If you have any of the popular TV and movie streaming apps, you likely have access to a library of virtual workouts you can do from the comfort of your living room. Browse your subscriptions to find a variety of exercise classes ranging from 10-30 minutes, including:

• Barre classes
• Body toning sessions
• Back and core training
• Full-body workouts
• High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
• Low-impact workouts
• Strength training sessions
• Pilates workouts
• Yoga classes

Download a fitness app

The right fitness app lets you tap into your phone as a mobile training partner. From dance workouts to strength training, there are hundreds of apps to choose from that help you plan workouts, set reminders and track your progress along the way. If running is your favorite way to move, join OneASICS™ to unlock a free 3-month trial of Runkeeper Go™, our premium app experience with advance insights, training plans and guided workouts.

Track your steps indoors

If you enjoy long walks, you don’t have to stop in the wintertime. Here are a few ways to get your steps in, indoors:

• Map out a walking route through your home or apartment and keep pace with your favorite upbeat playlist.
• Lace up your walking shoes, invite a friend, and walk through your local mall or indoor market.
• If you work in an office, invite a few coworkers for a post-lunch walk through the hallways and stairwells of your building.

Stay toasty, strong, and flexible with hot yoga

Consider taking a hot yoga class to maintain muscle and stay fit and flexible throughout the winter. Hot yoga offers a variety of advantages for your mind and body, including:

• Better balance and muscle strength
• Enhanced flexibility of joints and muscles
• Reduction of joint and muscle aches and pains
• Improved mental wellbeing

Remember to get your doctor’s approval before you participate in a hot yoga class, particularly if you’re pregnant or have a preexisting health condition.

Embrace the elements

Not everybody’s brave enough to hit the slopes; but the good news is that there are plenty of ways to stay moving outside in the winter. Exercising in cold weather offers some unique benefits like increased energy levels and more vitamin D absorption, which can help with overall mental wellbeing.

Consider these ways to get moving outdoors this winter:

• Take part in sledding or ice skating.
• Gather a group of friends for a hockey or broomball game.
• Enjoy downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, or snowboarding.
• Wander through the mountains or forest on snowshoes.
• Forego a snowblower and shovel your driveway and sidewalks.
• Find a plowed road or pathway and go for a cold-weather run.

No matter how you choose to move, remember to check the forecast ahead of time and stay safe with proper layering.

Please note: The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and does not contain or constitute medical advice or a medical opinion. Always consult with your qualified and licensed medical professional prior to beginning or modifying any diet or exercise program.