With winter in full swing, we round up the best ideas for staying fit when it’s raining outside.
Summertime makes it easy to get outside and walk with friends or log a run on Strava. Winter? Rainy weather inevitably keeps us inside more, which means fewer steps and more driving from A to B. However, there are many benefits to staying active throughout winter. The gloomy weather can bring our mood down; seasonal affective disorder (SAD) makes us sad, literally. Staying active can help stir up our endorphins, making us feel happier and motivated. This article will dive into verified strategies for exercising when it’s wet outside so that we can look after our bodies and mind year-round.
Benefits of Exercising Indoors
Exercising indoors means avoiding exposure to harsh weather outside, traffic, or hazardous terrain. Also, it offers you the flexibility to work out whenever you want and have privacy within the walls of your space.
Best Workout Platforms for Exercising Indoors
There has been a significant increase in online workout platforms available. We have curated a list of the top ones for various exercises, including HIIT, strength training, yoga, and pilates. Joining an online platform also helps inspire motivation as you can sign up for team challenges, set milestones and find fun communities.
Local-born, world-renowned Les Mills+ offers the usual energetic, sweaty workouts that we know and love – except online, with over 1500+ workouts. Want a taste? Try their GRIT workout for thirty minutes of high-intensity interval training (warning, burpees included). They also offer a free 30-day trial; better yet, you can enjoy a discount if you’re a member.
For those wanting to find peace and let calmness trickle into their busy day, Studio Red offers online courses targeted at reducing stress, improving sleep and increasing energy. Their courses not only benefit your mental health, but also include yoga and HIIT pilates to strengthen and mobilise your body.
For endorphins on demand, this yoga studio has over 300 dynamic online workouts for stretching and sweating. Fit Flow was like no yoga class we’ve tried; it is the perfect blend of cardio, strength and yoga. Beyond yoga flows, there are also HIIT Pilates, HIIT Cardio and Barre to choose between and classes for every level of experience.
Also, make sure to take advantage of their free 14-day trial.
Household Items to Supplement Your Workouts
You don’t need a lot of equipment to work out. With some basic items, you have everything you need for a good workout. Remember to be cautious and use common sense when using household items for exercise. Ensure that items are safe and secure before incorporating them into your workouts.
- Stairs
If you live in an apartment block or have more than one storey, try sprint drills up and down for a fiery HIIT session. If you have only a few steps available, grab something heavy and do weighted step-ups for a glute strengthening workout.
- Resistant Bands
Don’t miss out on mobility work – it’s essential for improving your posture and preventing injuries, aches and pains. Resistant bands can be found affordably online or even at your local Kmart. This resistant band workout and mobility session hits all the right notes, and all you need is one long resistant band.
- Furniture
Did you know that your furniture can double as workout equipment? With a little creativity, you can use your sofa for Bulgarian split squats or the edge of a table for incline or decline press-ups. Chairs can also be used for step-ups, tricep dips, or squats. Get creative with your furniture to get a great workout at home.
- Heavy Items
To enhance your workout routine, you can use cans, bottles of water, or bags filled with books as additional weights. For example, you can work on your core by doing Russian twists while holding two bottles filled with water or a school bag filled with books. You can also use heavy bottles for biceps curls, shoulder presses, or triceps extensions.
Creating an Environment to Optimise Your Indoor Workouts
Your environment will significantly influence whether you want to work out inside. While not all of us can have a private gym or studio space at home, we can try to keep a small area clear of clutter – it only needs to be large enough to lay a yoga mat flat. If you have a games or media room, try to make it multi-purpose by storing your equipment there. The television will also be great for streaming online workouts. Ensure proper ventilation with windows and fans to avoid stinking out the house and overheating.
Key Takeaways:
Maintaining physical and mental health by staying active throughout the year is key to living a happy, healthy life. In winter, exercising can help prevent or alleviate seasonal affective disorder. Fortunately, plenty of online workout options are available for people of all skill levels, accessible anytime, anywhere, and on any device. Additionally, you can use household items as workout equipment to supplement your training. By making a few small changes to your workout space, you can create a welcoming environment that motivates you to remain active even during the rainy season.
If you want to learn more about moving and nourishing your body in tailored approach according to your age, our free Eat Your Age white paper is available to download here! It’s packed with expert insights and research-backed information on eating and living well for each decade of life so you can thrive in your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 6os and beyond!
