It doesn’t matter if you live in downtown New York City or the further reaches of Siberia. Fitness is a universal pursuit. Nevertheless, your circumstances can have a significant influence on your workouts. Here are a few suggestions to keep your cardio up and your health on point in any environment.
Warm Weather Fitness
The most common way to exercise outside is in warm, sunny weather. Exercise programs and weather apps often gauge fitness goals specifically based on if the temperature is comfortable and the sun is shining. Even so, there are a couple of major factors that can impact your warm-weather activities. One of the biggest of these is whether you’re in the water or on land.
Water-Based Activities
If you live near an easy-to-access body of water, there are countless ways that you can use this proximity to stay fit.
- Swimming: First and foremost, you can simply go swimming. There are many different swimming strokes that are easy to learn and can keep the activity interesting. If you want to take things to the next level, you can even do a full-body workout right in the water.
- Paddleboarding: Stand up paddleboarding (SUP) is a popular, water-based pastime. Tower Paddle Board says there are many different kinds of SUPs available, as well. This makes the activity accessible for any level of commitment or cost.
- Small watercraft: If you’re not interested in getting wet on a regular basis, consider getting a canoe or a kayak. Smaller, hand-propelled watercraft offer an excellent way to work out in a peaceful environment. It’s a good way to get in some cardio without getting wet in the process.
It doesn’t matter what your particular level of aquatic interest is. There are many ways to maintain your fitness when you have a body of water near-to-hand.
Landlocked Activities
Most individuals don’t have easy access to an outdoor body of water — and that’s okay. If the weather’s warm, there are numerous ways to use your current environment to sneak in some exercise.
- Stretch your legs: Keep your blood flowing by doing things like walking the dog and training for a marathon. If you live near a high-altitude area, look for a good place to hike.
- Ride a bike: If you live in an area with little variation in altitude, you may want to try riding a bike. This is a great way to propel yourself along at a faster rate. It enables you to exercise without losing interest in flat or dull surroundings.
- Join a pickup sport: If you find that your environment is either limited or restricted — such as dwelling in an urban area — consider looking for a pick-up sport to play. This provides you with an engaging environment where you can meet with others and stay fit together.
From walks to bikes to pick up sports, there are plenty of ways to stay healthy in any warm-weather environment.
Cold Weather Fitness
When the weather gets cold, it can be difficult to stay active. Fortunately, there are many ways to get through the chilly weather without giving up on exercising in that crisp outdoor air. Many of these are similar to warm-weather fitness pursuits, though they should be handled more carefully.
- Go for a walk or run: As long as the roads aren’t snowed under, you can still walk, jog, hike, and run, even in the cold weather. However, make sure to take proper precautions. Wear shoes with good traction. Dress in warm, dry layers. Warm-up beforehand. Protect both your skin and your extremities. Even consider dressing in bright colors to help stay visible during the shorter, cloudy days.
- Go ice skating: When the water becomes too cold to swim or boat in, consider shifting to ice skating. You can skate laps on your own or gather a group of friends for recreational trips to the closest outdoor rink. If you’re more serious, you can even join a pick-up hockey league. Once again, make sure to take cold-weather precautions beforehand.
- Find snow-themed activities: If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, steer into the skid — literally. Invest in a good sled, skiing, or snowboarding gear. Consider getting a pair of snowshoes. Even look for ways to turn snow shoveling into a fitness regimen. If you do the latter, Spine-health recommends selecting a good snow shovel that won’t strain your back.
If you take the time to strategize, there’s no reason your activity needs to slump along with the thermostat.
Indoor Fitness
The coronavirus forced many individuals to find ways to stay fit from the cramped confines of the homefront environment. Even here, though, there are plenty of ways to stay in shape.
- Deskercise: There are many exercise routines such as rockstar-ride.com that can help you stretch and stay fit. These can be a lifesaver if you find yourself spending endless hours sitting in your home office.
- Get fitness equipment: Stationary bikes, treadmills, and home gyms are all great ways to keep moving in a contained space. If you have money to invest, you can go big by getting a Peloton bike. If you’re more budget-conscious there’s always second-hand fitness equipment available on sites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.
- Try the 7-Minute Workout: A 7-Minute Workout is a great way to stay fit in cramped quarters with limited time. As the name suggests, the workout only takes seven minutes to complete. It also only requires basic elements like a chair and a wall.
It’s easy to stay fit, even in your home. All it requires is a little creativity.
Fitness isn’t just a good idea. It’s an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. That’s why it’s important to always stay ready and resourceful when it comes to maintaining an exercise regimen. Don’t let things like weather and other environmental limitations hold you back from staying fit.
Instead, review the recommendations listed above. Then, consider your surroundings and craft the best fitness routine you can. Don’t just do your best to avoid environmental constraints as you do so, either. Instead, steer into the unusual aspects of your current exercise space and look for the ways that it can breathe new life into your health and wellness journey.
