How to Stay Active When It’s Cold Out

It may be tempting to curl up on the couch and hibernate when it’s raining, but your body still needs physical activity during the winter months. Daily exercise boosts mental health, reduces the risk of heart disease, helps you control your weight and keeps your body strong – all fantastic benefits that are too important to give up just because it’s cold out. Need some inspiration to get yourself up and moving? Here are five fun ways to stay active this winter.

1) Participate in Winter Sports

Vancouver is also just a stone’s throw away from some of the world’s best winter sports destinations and it would be a shame if you didn’t take advantage of them. You can learn how to ski, snowboard and snowshoe at Whistler Blackcomb or local mountains like Grouse, Cypress and Seymour. Go farther and you’ll wind up at renowned ski resorts such as Big White, Apex, Sun Peaks and Revelstoke. If you prefer ice skating, the rink at Robson Square offers free skating until the end of February.

Winter sports are not only fun, but they also expose you to sunlight. Sunlight helps your body produce vitamin D which is crucial because it regulates the absorption of calcium, supports the immune system and reduces the risk of depression.

2) Join a Mall Walking Program

Did you know some malls organize walking clubs? Guildford Town Centre has been running a low-impact walking program for over 25 years. It’s a great way to get your heart pumping during the winter while meeting people in the community. The program is open to adults of all fitness levels and led by a certified personal trainer.

3) Sign Up for a Group Fitness Class

Socializing and staying active are the best ways to ward off the winter blues. The great news is you can get both of these things by joining a group fitness class. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association conducted a study in 2017 and found that people who did group workouts ranked their mental and physical health higher than people who worked out solo. Pilates, yoga, kickboxing and Zumba are just some of the types of group workouts you can attend.

4) Try Indoor Sports

Indoor sports provide the same benefits as group fitness classes. Most community centres offer a variety of drop-in programs ranging from basketball to badminton. You can also round up your friends and sign up as a team for local sports leagues.

5) Take the Stairs and Park Farther Away

You should aim to get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. If you can’t commit to one 30-minute session, try to break it up throughout the day and remember that little activities count as exercise too. For example, you could go for a quick stroll during your lunch break, take the stairs instead of the elevator or park farther away from the grocery store to squeeze in more physical activity.

6) Is Pain Preventing You from Staying Active?

Whether you’re suffering from a bad back or aching knee, our chiropractor can help you get back to a pain-free life so you can do the activities you love. During your initial appointment, Dr. Morgan Rees will work with you to determine the root cause of your pain and create a custom treatment plan based on your health goals. He will also perform chiropractic adjustments to increase range of motion and improve your body’s physical function.