Not everyone is privy to skiing, skating, snowboarding, or generally spending time in the snow—and who can blame them? It’s harsh, windy, cold, and can generally be an unpleasant time.
However, this doesn’t mean you can sit like a bump on a log for the entire winter. No matter how badly you’d prefer to wrap yourself up in a blanket with a cup of hot cocoa, a bit of exercise will do anyone some good. The best part? You can do it without leaving your home. No gym membership, premium app, or equipment required. These exercises are so accessible, you can do them in your fuzzy slippers (although we wouldn’t necessarily recommend that).
Full-Body Strength Workout
Keep it simple with a basic circuit workout to get your heart rate going. 3 to 4 sets, 10-15 reps, 7 exercises, in 30-40 minutes. Remember to do your warmup and cooldown!
- Squats
- Pushups
- Walking Lunges
- Plank
- Burpees
- Glute Bridges
- Mountain Climbers
These exercises are known as compound exercises, where you’ll work multiple muscle groups at the same time. These 7 exercises may not get you ripped, but they will keep you active and strong.
At-Home Cardio
You don’t need to go for a run to get your cardio in! In the case of at-home workouts, YouTube is your best friend. There are thousands of videos dedicated to making you work up a sweat, and you don’t have to pay a cent.
Popular workout channels include: POPSUGAR, Fitness Blender, MadFit, The Body Project, and Pamela Reif.
Yoga/Pilates
Just like cardio, YouTube is your best friend. Yoga and pilates have more of a focus on strength, flexibility, and balance, but tend to offer more substitutions to accommodate different mobility and body types. They’re generally low-impact, which also makes them great options to help wake up or go to sleep. This also means you won’t be putting too much strain on your wrists, knees, or ankles.
Low-Fee Options
If you’re feeling like YouTube videos and bodyweight exercises aren’t quite what you’re looking for, or you prefer the group workout dynamic, looking into a virtual gym subscription might be worth your while. You still don’t need any equipment or a whole whack of space, and the cost is generally lower than your traditional gym membership. Gyms like GoodLife, the YMCA, or Crunch all have online workout programs.
Tips For Success
- Work out during the daylight, if you can. You’ll feel much more motivated to move your body while the sun is still out.
- Be realistic. You don’t have to become a fitness god out of the gate. Start with small, manageable goals or smaller workout times to get more comfortable.
- Create a routine. Figure out what time of day feels best for you to get your sweat on and stick to it.
- Don’t get frustrated. It can be hard to get through a workout, let alone trying to work out during these darker parts of the year. If you miss a day, so what? There’s always tomorrow.
