It’s winter in the U.S., and this winter has already been colder than normal. Much of the country is experiencing below-normal temperatures and more snowfall than normal, including in areas of the country that don’t usually get hit with the white stuff. For example, in Tennessee, a state not know for brutal winters, the National Weather Service is predicting a “winter storm will produce major travel impacts with 3 to 7 inches of snow. Locally higher totals are possible” on Friday, January 10.
No matter where you live, chances are you’ll want to exercise indoors sometimes. Maybe it’s too cold and snowy outside, or maybe it’s too hot and humid in the summer. Here are some tips on the best ways to exercise inside, and, of course, consult with your doctor before you try any new workout or diet routine. These are just some ideas, but your doctor will know best.
Great Tips to Exercise Indoors
Train Online with a Fitness Expert
Bring personalized fitness training to you with a virtual workout. “If a guided sweat session is more your style, bring the fitness class to your living room,” Right as Rain states. “Personal trainers are also getting in on the virtual exercise game, with apps that feature audio-guided workouts that pipe the voices of various fitness gurus through your headphones.”
Right as Rain adds that, “Other apps can match you up with a fitness coach in your area. Once you and your chosen trainer connect, start receiving personalized workouts, feedback about your technique and customized exercise goals.”
Make Exercise Fun
There are ways to make exercise fun. “ Whatever your favorite way to entertain yourself may be, get it ready to go, and then save it to enjoy during your workout,” Web MD notes. “Make a playlist with songs you love. Download an audiobook you’re excited about. Record a whole season of a great show on your DVR, or add it to your streaming queue.”
Try Different Kinds of Exercises to Switch It Up
Never get bored with your workout. Try different types of exercising, from running and cardio to weight training and more. Yoga is another option. “Yoga provides relaxing physical activity all year long and can easily be done in your bedroom, living room or just about anywhere in the house,” Silver Cross notes. “You can even use yoga first thing in the morning to wake up slowly and get your body warmed up for the day.”
Engage New Muscles
Don’t work out your same muscles each day. When you’re working inside, switch it up and try to use different muscles. “There is a benefit to switching up to your workout routine,” Joel Hardwick, ACSM EP-C, EIM2, an exercise physiologist at Piedmont Atlanta Fitness Center, states. “If you normally cycle outdoors, trying a new workout class or cardio machine at the gym will challenge new muscles and prevent boredom.”
The Piedmont Atlanta Fitness Center also advises to exercise indoors during the winter months. “When the days are short and it is dark outside when you leave the office, it can be safer to exercise indoors,” they note.