Carrying pumpkins through the patch is great exercise

Exercise through the seasons: Fall

By Mars | September 23, 2018 | Comments 0 Comment

Second to New Years, the start of fall seems like the best time to make changes. Autumn is the beginning of my family’s fiscal year of sorts. Each advancing grade in school is a milestone crossed for the kids, with new routines to go along. There is back-to-school madness, a need for a warmer wardrobe, cooler temps, and evolving priorities. Like the eventual shift in the color of the leaves, we morph into fall people who do fall things.

One thing everyone should be doing is staying active. Adding fall exercise ideas into those new routines can ensure that movement continues, through the busyness of work and school, and into the holidays. Just because the weather is getting colder doesn’t mean you can’t exercise, and in fact it may be easier to do it now than in summer. Autumn is primo time to enjoy the outdoors. The cool air in the morning is divine, and no matter if it’s sunny, misty, raining, or even snowing, there is a richness to the world that I don’t want to miss by staying in. You can fit movement into your everyday, like walking the kids to school or biking to work, or make it the centerpiece of your weekend, in a long hike or excursion.

The colors of fall turn the neighborhood you've been looking at all year into something special, so your same old run is renewed. — Going on a neighborhood run in fall is like sleeping with the same old partner, only they’re wearing a jazzy wig. It feels like you are doing something for the first time because everything looks different, more vibrant…and maybe orange, if you are into that.

Fall color

I can’t get enough of the color bursts of leaves. If I’m running, walking, hiking, or biking I am always enchanted by the change of scenery in the same places I’ve been to all year. This season is made for targeted walks to see your favorite trees, or a forest filled with crayon colors.

There is a kick-ass bridge a few towns over with gorgeous leaves to see. It is a great place to do an afternoon walk as the ground gets deeper with nature’s confetti. I also want to check out the Hoyt Arboretum and try a hike with the kids, to see a few certain species of trees that are especially brilliant. Whether or not it follows the purist’s version, I like to combine a little exercise with my tree bathing.

The tree in my own backyard turns rainbow in the fall. Perfect inspiration to be out working in my yard. — The camera cannot do justice to this favorite tree, in my own backyard, that becomes a rainbow in fall. It has leaves in red, purple, orange, yellow, and green at once. Neighbors from across the way have gushed when they realize this tree is in my backyard, since they can see the colors from their windows and love it every time it changes. I think it’s an ash tree.

Put your yard and summer to bed

Speaking of leaves: raking these yourself can be an intense but rewarding practice. The leaves from the rainbow tree eventually must fall, but make great mulch for garden boxes and flower beds. I always work up a sweat and my kids have a blast jumping into the leaf piles.

Sometimes it takes me awhile, but eventually I do find the motivation to put my garden to bed. Doing yard or garden cleanup, pruning, mowing, and mulching are good workouts and make you feel like you are being productive. Putting away the kiddy pool, outdoor chairs, and other warm weather paraphernalia is bittersweet: I already miss the long, sunny days, but I’m also looking forward to snuggling into the fall.

Harvest, Halloween, and Thanksgiving fun

The family tradition of going to the pumpkin patch sets us up for a day of walking outside, usually when a blue-skied sunny day hits. We have many options for picking pumpkins PLUS hayrides, hay mazes, pumpkin shooting, and other crazy pumpkin antics. Carrying your own pumpkin across the uneven ground of a pumpkin patch is quite the workout.

There are also huge corn mazes, like this one at The Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island. Getting lost isn’t all bad, since the more you suck at mazes the longer the walk you get. So feel good about it.

Halloween has trick-or-treating, of course. But there are other ways to get a walk or run done. Try a haunted house or a costume run, such as Run Like Hell . You can even combine runner’s diarrhea with a fright-induced bowel release during a haunted corn maze or zombie run. I found 3 zombie runs this year near me—I like the idea of running as a zombie, but I don’t think I’d be fast enough to scare anyone!

Thanksgiving time has its own races, like the Turkey Trot, or the vegan-friendly Tofurkey Trot (no relation to the aforementioned “trots”).

Some families I know have a football Thanksgiving tradition. Watching TV games are fun and everything, but playing for real, with your family in the mud, is more entertaining. If you aren’t down to get dirty you can always toss the pigskin around in the alleyway, or in the cul-de-sac like we do!

Sporting events

Attending sporting events in the fall is an opportunity for fitness, even if you aren’t the one taking tackles. We attend various college, high school, middle school, and elementary games, depending on which kid is playing what and how our schedule is. It’s a chance to be outside, and sitting in the stands isn’t the only thing you can do. I try to offset sitting time with active time, and little pockets of waiting can be used for exercise.

When we watch Ducks football we have to park quite a long way from Autzen Stadium, which is fine because the trek is always interesting for people-watching.

One autumn I had 4 kids playing football for the season. That required a lot of practices, jamborees, and games. I’ve walked the track at various schools in the region before games and after (and sometimes during, to calm a fussy baby). I also run the perimeter of the school during practices, and once in awhile I will do a stairs workout on the bleachers.

Walking the track with a stroller at my son's football game. Walking or running during your kids' sporting events is an easy exercise idea. — It’s easy to fit in 45 min hour of walking as I wait for weigh-ins at my 13 year-old’s game. Add in half time and I’ve got a full hour.

For those who want to be on the other side of the game, there are leagues for adult soccer, dodgeball, and other things with balls. I observed a big community soccer game at the turf field nearby this morning. People of all ages were out there sweating together, and they looked like they were having fun. Get out and grab some balls, people! It’s fall!

Sign to warn of balls that might hit you at sporting events — I caught this sign at our Varsity away game on Friday night. They get serious about their balls. Enter at your own risk, for sure.

Whether or not you are getting scared, carrying a pumpkin, having diarrhea, or grabbing some balls at the game, there are endless reasons to enjoy yourself while getting a little exercise in. Activity can be a side dish to your day or the main course, but the important thing is that it happens at all. Let the colors of fall move you while you move, until the exciting wig of autumn must come off, and everything goes back to normal again.

Pelicans don't mind the effort and heat of flying in the sun.

Exercise through the seasons: Summer

By Mars | June 17, 2018 | Comments 0 Comment

Summer is like a battery for charging the rest of your exercise year. The long days and ample sunshine make spending time outside a no-brainer, and you get more out of your waking hours. The motivation and habits that come from the action of summer can be stretched into the months that follow.

Benefits

No matter your activity of choice, the summer has a lot to offer.

Accessibility. Areas that were covered in snow or mud during the winter and spring might now be available. Trails, parks, outdoor pools, and natural areas are open for business.
Togetherness. An upswing in community events bring people together to move and enjoy the weather. People are taking vacations from work, and the kids are out of school.
Long days of productivity. There is literally more time (in daylight, that is) to exercise. Everyone seems to be outside and getting things done. And you should too.
Freedom of movement. Wearing less clothing makes it easier to exercise and sweat with abandon.

Summer workarounds

With the bounty of daylight comes higher temperatures, which can make exercise seem harder. I have been caught more than once trespassing into someone’s yard to feel the spray from a sprinkler during a run. In order to avoid over-heating, you can incorporate these workarounds:

Timing your activity for earlier or later in the day, when temps are cooler
Finding shade
Being in, on, or near, water
Staying hydrated to mitigate the effects of heat
Finding fun, creative ways to stay cool

Summer Exercise Ideas

Walking, running, and hiking

Sunrise and sunset hikes

Seeing the sun rise or set is like magic, and it can be experienced twice a day! Find a viewpoint that inspires you and trek there. You can pack a breakfast, dinner, or a fancy box of wine and make a picnic.

Sunrise hike in the Elkhorn Mountains of Eastern Oregon — This hike in the Elkhorn Mountains of Eastern Oregon was just after sunrise. The sun was there, but not yet scalding us. The silence was amazing. It felt a little too early for boxed wine, however.

Walking near water

The temperature-controlling effects of water makes some locations less hot in summer. Find areas to walk near rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands, or the ocean. You will be blessed with cooler air, and possibly wind.

Made in the shade

When the heat of summer hits I find it most comfortable to run in the morning under the shade of trees. Finding nearby forest is easy in the Pacific Northwest. If your area is less abundant, try to find neighborhoods or roads lined with mature trees, tall buildings, or fences. If you strategize based on the position of the sun you can plan a run that is mostly shaded.

Don’t be embarrassed to use a parasol. I pack a small light-colored umbrella with me that can be used rain or shine on long walks or hikes. It has come in very handy when hiking with a sleeping baby in a backpack.

Water fun

If being near water helps you cool down, being IN water is even better! Swimming and other water sports are made for summer. Whether you are swimming laps at the pool, canoeing on the lake, or surfing at the coast, water workouts can be whole-body experiences that use muscles you’ve never heard of. There are lots of ways to enjoy the water:

Most parks and rec departments have public swimming pool sessions for a nominal fee. Some high school pools are open to the public during summer. Don’t forget your apartment or HOA pools, or those at the gym you might belong to. Even doggy paddling burns mega calories. Be nice to friends and enemies alike—it won’t matter which they are if they have a pool to share.
Kayaking, paddle boarding, and canoeing are good ways to get “rower’s arms”, and are available for all abilities. Here in Portland there are classes on the Willamette River. I love tagging along with friends who own kayaks, to paddle amongst the lily pads of Mt. Hood’s Trillium Lake.
Doing activities near the water gives you the option to get in and take a dip to cool off. One of my favorite things is a challenging run or hike that ends in a crisp deluge. In my younger years I spent many hot afternoons ambling up rock cliffs to jump off into the cold river.

Waterfall hiking can help keep it cool during summer hikes. — Here is a much tamer scene from a waterfall hike in the Columbia River Gorge. The spray felt invigorating in the heat of July

Move to eat

Humans are social eaters who survived on hunting and gathering until the recent past. We still get satisfaction from participating in the work it takes to get fed, and food is instinctively bound to exercise. When you are trying to live a healthy lifestyle it may sound counter-intuitive to link exercise with eating, but our existence once depended on it. We feel satisfied when we put effort into finding and creating our meals, and then sharing them with others. Summer brings harvest and communal food activities. It is the perfect time to use our strength to provide for ourselves and our loved ones in the most basic ways.

Food gathering

Oregon strawberries are worth the exercise of gardening, picking, or walking for. — Oregon strawberries are the bomb-diggity, whether you grow, pick, or buy them at a local market. The tastier varieties are fragile, and don’t store or transport well, so they usually aren’t found on grocery store shelves. They are worth walking, stooping, and bending over for!

I have spent many meditative hours in the fields picking blueberries. It was once my job, since my small hands and impoverished life made it a perfect match. Nowadays I can say food gathering is a choice—and that I love selecting fresh peaches, berries, or apples to take home to my family. The repetitive motions involved can clear your head and give your muscles a challenge.

If you are lucky enough to have your own garden space, you can do this steps from your door. Tending your garden is physical and brings you the freshest, most nutritious food you can find.

Farmers markets

The parking situation always sucks at our local farmers markets, but that’s ok. I park away from the crazy zone and enjoy the walk, or I amble all the way there from my house (3-4 miles to the nearest one). Bringing a wagon, stroller, or backpack keeps the food and wares from getting withered or melted on the way back.

While at the market, my family and I enjoy strolling booth to booth and listening to live music. We always run into people we know. It is a familiar and comfortable place, and the food is top-quality, local, and inspiring. Some of our nearby markets also have water fountains for the kids to cool off in.

Destination tastings

Every place has its “best of” regional foods that you can incorporate into an active day of movement and experiences. A quick internet search can give you a map of places you want to sample, and you can make a day of walking to them.

My own Portland area boasts so many ways to do destination eating. From food carts to food tours, there are endless excuses to eat incredible things outdoors (as if you needed one). Brewery and wine tours attract people from everywhere, and are opportunities to walk and socialize, along with tasting the latest offerings. There are hiking and biking excursions with a vineyard focus. Some people like to burn off their beer calories with a brew cycle tour. It might be a great way to entertain out-of-town summer house guests (or piss them off, depending).

Attend a race or community event

Summer is peak season for sports and fitness events. There are races, friendly competitions, and fitness camps. To find an activity of interest near you, try a site like active.com, which lets you search for upcoming events in your area. My city holds open track meets on Wednesdays during July and August for anyone who over 5 years old who wants to join.

Races, like this obstacle course and mud event, are fun summer exercise ideas. — The most recent race we participated in was this Terrain Racing event, which had mud and obstacles. I had to skip a couple of really hard tasks. My 7 and 8 year-old kids pretty much rocked it.

Festivals and community gatherings are also in full swing. Many of these events have a run, walk, or other fitness competition scheduled in conjunction with the celebration, but sometimes it is enough to walk all day enjoying the fun of the festival itself. I kinda want to check out the Elephant Garlic Festival run and the garlic that goes along with it!

Vacation exercise

Whether you go anywhere away from home or not, taking a break from the uszh is a good idea. Much to my husband’s annoyance, I tend to plan physical outings into every vacation. I can’t wait to hike everywhere I visit, or at least spend most of our waking hours outdoors seeing the sites. I feel SO sorry for him: he has had to go through the Yucatán jungle to see ancient Mayan ruins, been swimming with Hawaiian sea turtles, and seen the breath-taking colors of Yellowstone’s hot springs. Now, as I write, we are on an epic National Parks road trip through Arizona and Utah. There will be hiking, oh yes…there will be hiking!

Hiking is always one of the best summer exercise ideas, even if your family whines about it beforehand. — Family hiking a few years ago at Craters of the Moon in Idaho

If you are super intense, or want a life-changing experience, consider doing a vacation where your muscles get you where you want to go—for the long haul. Long cycling and backpacking trips might be best done in summer when weather conditions allow, depending on your region.

There is no better way to experience a place or its culture than to take in the natural wonders or walk in the path of the locals. The excitement of seeing something for the first time is an excellent motivator for moving.

If you want a staycation this summer, visit places you’ve been wanting to see next door. Or, serve as tour guide to someone you want to share your hometown with.

Hometown parks and schoolyards

I hate being bored. Exercising the same way, with the same scenery, day after day gets old. For me, a little novelty goes a long way. During the summer I try to pump up the jam by taking the kids to different parks and schoolyards. With classes done for the year, summer turns schoolyards, which tend to boast open spaces, into parks (as long as your district allows public access in the off season).

In a 5-mile radius from my house there are at least 3 dozen places to walk, play frisbee, or do some crazy exercises at the jungle gym. (Watch these 21 Playground Exercises For An Outdoor Workout.) The playground equipment is great for dips and pull ups. (As if I can do either, but I see other badasses doing these! I have been paying my kids $5 once they can do a pull up. It has motivated them.)

Living an active lifestyle doesn’t only mean hitting your target heart rate for 150 minutes a week, although this helps. It means keeping your body strong and capable. Summertime is the perfect season to build the habit of moving everyday, or to try something new and fun. It is a time to foster your relationships by getting out and doing things you love with people you adore.

Get some sun, some fresh air, and charge your exercise batteries with good memories and getting fit. Stay cool, Friends!

Put some step in your spring with spring exercise

Exercise through the seasons: Spring

By Mars | March 20, 2018 | Comments 0 Comment

The days are getting longer. The air is smelling sweeter as warmth creeps slowly back into our lives. We just want to soak up the sun—spring is finally here and it’s the perfect time to get moving!

Spring Exercise Benefits

This season is hopeful. It’s an era of shedding the heaviness of old commitments, cleaning up, and getting organized. People are looking ahead instead of backward, and are trying to put the best foot forward. Exercise can be incorporated into this momentum. Enjoying the best of spring can’t wait—just as all seasons must pass, the beauty and color makes a short but incredible visit.

We welcome the return of green, the bustle of people out and about, and the signs that life is thriving—as we should strive to be. Being outside just feels right. Spring temperatures are less extreme than winter or summer, and can be more comfortable for a workout.

Workarounds for Excuses!

Because weather can be variable (depending on your region), it’s harder to plan activities ahead. Spring climate can go from frosty to rainy to sunny. The key is to be flexible, having a full range of things in mind for staying active. Be ready to enjoy a warm day outdoors, brave the elements, or workout inside. Dress in layers to stay comfy if the sun comes in and out of the clouds.

You may have been in hibernation all winter and feel out of shape, but never fear, there are exercises you can start today, no experience necessary! For every excuse there is a workaround. What are you waiting for?

Spring Fever for the Senses

Flower power walk or run

Taking a stroll may yield something different every week. From crocus and cherry blossoms, to daffodils and irises, the colors are precious when the days have been bleak. If your neighborhood doesn’t have much to offer, find a park, botanical garden, nature preserve, or a nearby snobby zip code that might have better flowers. Just don’t pick anything that doesn’t belong to you.

“Sorry about your roses, lady. All we have are dandelions past 209th”

Plum trees in bloom for spring exercise — The street view from a neighborhood walk on a spring day, with plum blossoms

In Portland there is a public rose garden that smells and looks amazing in June and costs nothing to visit. Check your local library for free passes to outdoor gardens. I took my extended family on a free tour of the Portland Japanese Garden using a library pass that I was able to reserve online from home.

There are also flower festivals around the country, big and small, that provide ways to enjoy the blooms. I get a full day of walking when I attend the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival. They even have a 5-10k trail run with a view of countless rows of amazing brilliance.

Tulip fields go great with spring running or walking — My sister took this pic from the fields at Wooden Shoe, a great place to see tulips and get some spring exercise.

Rainy day hike

Just because it’s raining doesn’t mean you can’t be outside enjoying the air. Listening to the sound of pattering raindrops is soothing and meditative, plus the greenery doesn’t get much better than this. As long as you have good shoes you should be fine, but be careful of slippery spots. Sometimes trails can be muddy.

Here we have Forest Park, which looks like it’s straight out of a fairy tale in the spring, with ferns and morning mist and giant fir trees. Probably why they filmed scenes for the TV show Grimm there.

Birding http://www.audubon.org/birding

Grab a pair of binoculars and look nerdy. Be sure to wear khaki shorts with lots of pockets and pull your socks up to your knees. Then find a hot spot for watching birds and walk there briskly, with swagger. The bird is the WORD, yo.

The kids have loved listening for the “okaree” of a red-winged blackbird, and gawking at the nest of a great blue heron. I take this to the next level by using my Audobon Society app, where I can look up migration patterns and listen to calls. If you are unsure of where to look for birds, think of somewhere with water and trees as a starting location.

Cleaning up

Spring cleaning is exercise

I know, what a cliché—spring cleaning is for losers who have nothing better to do. But there is something about this time of year that makes people want to get their lives in gear. And vacuum their mini blinds or rearrange their furniture. If you harbor such inclinations you should go full on and make a cardiovascular workout or strength training session out of it. If there was ever a time to make a 3 hour gangsta rap playlist, go ceiling to floor, and clean dat bitch up, it would be now. Need a checklist? Oh, got one for cleaning your house too.

Gardening and yard work

If you have outdoor space at home you may be getting antsy to freshen it up. There is probably sweeping, power washing, and weeding to do. Digging and basic hoeing can burn some serious calories.

Righteous cleaning for others

Springtime cleanup of natural areas requires the physical labor of generous volunteers. There’s no good reason for you to not be one of them. Search for beach, park, and trail cleanups in your area. In spring Oregon beaches get a scouring with help from kind souls, young and old.

If you don’t want to drive to help clean up, pick up trash near home on your walk or run. You might look crazy, but you’re actually being awesome, just like the misunderstood local heroes that dig through dumpsters at the stadium for cans to recycle.

Meet up or get there

Cycling, sports, and other meet ups

Although serious cyclists may pedal year round, some of us wait for fair weather, and that’s okay. I’m okay, you’re okay, we’re all okay. If you want to take a ride but feel safer on the road with others, or simply want to enjoy the company, use a site like Meetup to connect with other cyclists. You can use social sites to find people doing all kinds of group workouts, maybe some you’ve never tried.

Team up with some friends and play tennis, a 3-on-3 basketball game, or some indoor raquetball. Look at your local parks and rec catalog for class ideas and team sports leagues. You aren’t the only one who wants to exercise, and making plans or signing up can help you stick to your commitment to move.

Giraffe on a bicycle, commuting to work and getting spring exercise — If he can leave his car at home, so can you!

Workout commute

There is no better way to kill two birds with one stone and save your own life with an act of murder. The two birds are named exercise and commute. (I hope you didn’t get attached when you saw them in your binoculars earlier.) If you have never tried to walk to the train or ride your bike to work you can start now. I am lucky to live close enough to work that a bike ride there only takes 10 minutes more than it does to drive. If you simply cannot incorporate exercise into your commute, try walking on your lunch break to squeeze in some daylight with vigor.

To Snow or to Melt

Spring snow sports

In early spring there is usually great skiing. You may even get one of those T-shirt slope days where the sun is out and the snow is like butter. If you ski regularly a spring pass can be a great value, and there are less crowds. Snowshoeing is also available and is even sexier in a bikini. (Or at least more comfortable with less layers.)

Waterfall power melt

As mountain snow starts melting, waterfalls get a boost and become even more powerful and gorgeous. Our Columbia Gorge waterfall hiking will be different this season due to wildfires this past summer, but I’m sure there are still some great places for viewing. I will probably check somewhere else out, like University Falls, or Silver Falls.

There are so many ways to keep moving in spring. Even if you have a reliable exercise routine, try to do something as fresh as a daisy. April showers bring May flowers, and spring exercise can bring summer legs that are worthy of culottes. Those who choose to make activity a regular part of their lives AND have fun with it won’t regret it. I swear.

portable ice skating rink with pushable bobbies

Exercise through the seasons: Winter

By Mars | December 14, 2017 | Comments 0 Comment

As the nights get longer I am more prone to couch lounging and making excuses not to participate in winter exercise.

“But it’s already dark!”

“It’s too cold out.”

“I’m too busy with Hanukkah/Christmas/Festivus/Groundhog’s Day/National Meatball Day.”

There is an instinct to hunker down and bow out of things that seem uncomfortably cold and unmotivating. Hot drinks and fuzzy slippers are easier.

But winter is actually full of great exercise opportunities, ones that can make you feel energized when the blahs of gray skies and cold toes set in. You just have to remember the benefits this season provides, and the workarounds you have available.

Benefits

Now is a chance to do things that feel too sweaty-hot in warmer months. If you are doing vigorous exercise outside the cold air keeps you from overheating, and if you’re working hard enough you may not have to worry about freezing your buns off (depending on your region). There there are less people outside, and better availability for places that are packed with crowds in warmer months.

The new year may also provide an opportunity to try a new goal or resolution and jump start your motivation. You can also take advantage of sales on fitness products and services.

Seasonal fun

There are events and activities aimed at holiday celebrations and winter weather. Snow and ice sports are are at their peak.

Don't be buried in the snow instead of doing winter exercise — Sledding FAIL! In order to claim snow sports as exercise you actually have to move. Exercising will keep you warm.

Winter workarounds

There are ways to dress for the weather that make things tolerable, if not enjoyable, despite low temps. I have exercise pants made for cold times and they really help me get outside with less complaining. If there is a sport that can be done outside, there is an outfit for doing it in the cold.

When the weather is just too extreme there are plenty of things to do indoors. Here is your chance to try something new.

Find something exciting or renew your passion for what you already love.

Walking, jogging, and running

Take a stroll through the neighborhood to look at holiday lights. My area has several commercial locations with beautiful displays, but if you ask around you can find lots of free, over-the-top residential homes that are worth the walk.
Visit the community track or the park. Less crowds make for a peaceful day. We typically have some clear, bright days that would make summer jealous.
Sign up for a race. One of my favorite half marathons is the Holiday Half. I love to see the themed costumes runners wear, and we drink beer and eat hot soup at the finish line. The finisher medal doubles as a Christmas ornament! On Running in the USA’s website you can search for a winter race by location and date. There are local Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s day races too of varying lengths.

Snow and ice

Downhill skiing and snowboarding—If you are lucky enough to live near a ski park or resort, and can afford it, hit the slopes. I like Ladies’ Night at Mt. Hood Ski Bowl, where I can cruise the country’s largest night ski terrain with my homies for only $24. (And have a drink together at the mid-slope warming hut.)
Cross country and snow shoeing excursions are typically less crowded and you can burn even more calories.
Snow skating with Sled Dogs looks pretty awesomely dangerous and intriguing. Need to try this!
Sledding and tubing are fun for the whole family. Climbing back up the hill is totally worth it.
Ice skating, indoors or out, is also family-friendly. We have a visiting portable rink that comes every Christmas season. They rent pushable bobbies that little kids can sit on when they get pooped out.

Indoor sports and fitness

Sign up for a class. Our parks and rec department offers everything from fencing to ballroom dancing. Hot yoga sounds good right now as I see frost outside my window.
Pay the small day use fee at the local rec center when it is too dangerous to be outside. For a few dollars you can use the cardio and weight machines, as well as the pool and hot tub.
Sign up for a trial membership at the gym, if you don’t have one already. You can typically visit different local spots for free (or very cheap) until you find your fit. January has a lot of deals going on for resolution season. My daughter keeps a sport gym membership for access to the b-ball courts, and meeting people to play pick up games with. The Hubs has a basic Planet Fitness membership that runs him only $10/month.
Exercise in the comfort of your own home. YouTube will not let you down. Nor will you ever run out of free videos to try. I do Bollywood dancing, Pilates, whatevs. My coworker has been digging the Christmas music Zumba-style workouts. Next I really want to try some body weight exercises to build upper body strength. I also use apps, like Gaiam’s Yoga studio, to customize my own workouts.

There really aren’t good excuses for doing nothing but watching the Yule log burn this winter. There are too many ways to have fun moving.

*I know availability varies per region, so please use this list as it applies to your own area. Also, exercising on snow and ice, and in your living room, can be dangerous at times. Be fit at your own risk!

Tag: seasonal exercise