5 Tips on How to Stay Fit Through Winter

Whilst the north part of this world is enjoying a beautiful summer, the southern hemisphere is in the midst of winter. Winter is a period of recovery; for the body as well as the mind. But it is also a period of maintenance. We need to stay fit.

Breathe Deep ~ Move Strong ~ Be Well

While allowing ourselves to rest and renew, we must also make sure that we keep a reasonable body weight and a good base level of fitness conditioning. By enhancing the immune system’s function, we can support our body in fighting off winter illnesses and kicking back against any of those winter indulgences.

At each Solstice, Earth pauses between inhaling and exhaling.

In 1923, Rudolf Steiner, who was famous for his revolutionary approach to education and biodynamic farming methods, described one single year on earth as a human full respiration cycle, with Autumn and Winter being the Earth’s inhale and Spring and Summer being its exhale.

The nights of winter are still long, we are still breathing in, resting and renewing; but as we have passed the pause – the Winter solstice. It is now time to take stock and be ready to release the power of our outward expression and growth into spring and summer.

So many of us often fall prey to the downsides of Earth’s inhale and the subsequent drawing in of energy. We crave warming foods against the cold and slow down our general activity. This usually results in an increase in body fat and a decrease in overall fitness and mobility.

Here are five Top Tips to stay fit and healthy during winter:

• Take up an indoor training option. Winter is the perfect time to try Hot Yoga or a Meditation Class in a warm and relaxing environment to strengthen the mind. If you predominantly train outdoors, having an indoor plan B means you can keep up momentum no matter what the weather. You should also think about a general resistance training program in a gym to build solid strength and stability for your summer pursuits.

• Focus on shorter burst activities. Since the shorter winter days result in the perception of less available daily hours, you should choose exercise options that are shorter and more intense. For example, try out express Spin or Circuit Classes, Boxing or brisk walks and runs. This way, your exercise session can be more easily scheduled into your day.

• Make the most of sunny winter days outdoors. The winter reduction in sun exposure can result in a lack of Vitamin D. This can have drastic effects on our moods and motivation levels. Make your motto ‘the sun is out, I get out’: a good dose of winter sun boosts the spirit and makes your body truly grateful!

• Eat healthy, immune system boosting, winter meals. A healthy winter diet can go a long way towards boosting your immune system and keeping the lurgies at bay. Check out the delicious, nutritious winter recipe from Gaia Retreat & Spa head chef HERE.

• Keep moving. The key to stay fit during winter is a daily dose of body movement. Simply moving our body lowers our metabolism and promotes a decrease in body fat. Even a short brisk walk before or after work can make a big difference.

By following these simple tips, we can launch into spring fit and well and avoid the hard work we would need to do to lose the winter flab and regain that base level of fitness.