With the holiday season right around the corner it can be hard to find the time to exercise or stay active. Staying active for just 30 minutes a day has been proven to reduce stress levels, increase energy levels and can even make you sleep better.
Here are some fun ways to stay active during the holiday season
Winter Walks and Hikes
Going for a daily morning or evening walk is a low impact exercise and a great way to help stay active during the holidays. As little as a 30 minute walk can help improve your cardiovascular fitness, help with weight loss and weight management.
Walking in nature has shown to have it’s own health benefits as well.
- Improve cognitive health
- Lowers blood pressure
- Lowers Cortisol levels
- Increases energy levels
- Strengthens heart muscles
- Decrease stress
Durham region hosts a variety of beautiful hiking trails and lakefront pathways, click the link below to find a hiking trail near you.
Ice Skating
Not only is ice skating a fun family activity, it is also a great way to exercise. Skating works out every muscle in your body, but is especially a great leg workout. Skating exercises your glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps, abductor muscles and your core muscles just to name a few. It can also help to improve your cardiovascular health.
Christmas Markets
Walking around a Christmas or Holiday Market is another great low impact way to exercise and a great way to get into the holiday spirit. As mentioned above, walking has so many health benefits and is a very low impact way to exercise and keep your body moving.
Indoor Pools
Going to your local community centre for a swim is another great workout that can be both impactful and a good family fun activity. Swimming is considered one of the best ways to workout as it exercises your entire body. Plus it is a great way to stay warm during the cold winter months. Some health benefits of swimming include
- Helps burn calories
- Great way to help rehab and recover from an injury
- Improves cardiovascular function
- Safe during pregnancy
- Helps Improve Sleep
Some other tips on how to stay active during the holidays
- Plan your workouts
- Prepare for the cold if you are exercising outside
- Set an alarm to wake up early
- Turn family visits into family walks
If you have been injured and are looking to start your road to recover. Call the professionals at Durham Orthopedic Clinic. Check out our website for updated Holiday hours.
