Oct 23, 2023
1264
Wellness
7 ways to stay active during the winter
It can be easier to get excited about an outdoor workout when the weather is perfect, but exercise is important year-round, even when it’s cold.
How will you get the 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)? Here are seven ways to stay active this winter.
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- Go ice skating. Enjoy a winter activity – indoors. A few regional options are the Carousel Oceanfront Resort Ice Rink in Ocean City, the Talbot County Community Center ice rink in Easton, and the Centre Ice Rink in Harrington. Check each location’s website for days and hours of operation.
- Go sledding. If we get snow this year, be a kid again and take the family sledding. It’s a great way to get some exercise in while walking up the hills. Always put safety first and consider potential dangers of the cold and ice by bundling up and being careful.
- Walk through a holiday light display. Walking is great anytime but take your mind off the exercise by enjoying impressive holiday displays while you do it. A couple places to do a holiday walk include the Winterfest of Lights at Northside Park in Ocean City ($6 admission for adults, free for kids 11 and under) or Schellville in Rehoboth Beach (free, but you can reserve an advance entry ticket). If you choose to do a walk around the neighborhood to enjoy neighbors’ displays, be sure to wear reflective gear or lights to stay visible to drivers.
- Get steps in while shopping. Shopping for gifts at a mall or outlet center? Make a point to do an extra walking loop, even if you’ve already finished shopping. Or, choose a parking spot that’s further away from the entrance.
- Create a fun challenge. Gather a group of friends and put together a holiday challenge. Maybe it’s a scavenger hunt during the month of December featuring items like a Santa hat, menorah and ornament to find while walking or running. A “12 Days of Christmas,” “Eight Nights of Hanukkah” or “Seven Days of Kwanzaa” challenge could feature increasing or different exercises each day.
- Find home workouts you enjoy. Whether you’re following a workout video on YouTube, doing bodyweight exercises or something else, there are plenty of ways to work out from home.
- Exercise indoors at the gym. Work up a sweat inside on the treadmill, spin bike or stair climber, and build muscle with weights or exercise machines.
TidalHealth offers medically based, supervised exercise programs at TidalHealth Adult Fitness, which has locations in Salisbury and Ocean Pines. Referrals are required.
Always check with your primary care provider before starting an exercise routine. If you're looking for a provider, TidalHealth has primary and specialty care providers conveniently located across Delmarva.
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