Exercising In Winter: Play Safe

By Anvi Mehta

Thursday, January 2, 2014, 18:43 [IST]

Just the thought of exercising in winter is something that makes most of us groan with despair. A cold and chilly morning is never an encouragement to go out and exercise. Winter mornings are usually lethargic and lazy, and there are bleak chances of exercising in the evenings as well. The winter winds make the muscles go numb and increase stupor in our body.

The best way to do away with this daze is to exercise, which will boost energy in our body. A good workout will keep us alert and brisk in the lazy winter weather. Our body stays warm if we exercise. And out body functioning increases and the body metabolism enhances. The body gets a wake up alarm and gets ready for the day's work.

Exercising should be regularly done and religiously followed. However, there are a few safety tips to follow when exercising during winter season. The regular and normal exercise regime may not be suitable for winters. Winter season is cold and has a tendency to dry our skin. If we do not take necessary precations, exercising might be adverse for our health and may cause cracks, pains and other health related problems.

Follow these exercise tips and you can stay fit as a fiddle even during the winter season:

Wear Warm Clothes

Winter season is cold and harsh for the skin and body. If you do not cover your body properly during exercising in winters it may cause cold and cough. You should cover your ears with a muffler or scarf. That is very essential as ears are sensitive to cold and bitter winds. Do not exercise in the open wind without wearing proper attire like a jacket, socks and thick cotton pants. Be careful with the cold and do not expose much in the wind. This safety tip for exercising in winters is beneficial for people who prefer to exercise outdoors.

Exercise Gently

Due to the cold temperature, our body joints tend to pain and swell if exercises are rigorous. To avoid this do not extend your workout for more than your capability. It is essential to take care of the joint pain as well. The pains can turn very bad if they are left ignored. Also, if you have any muscle strain or bone fracture in the recent past, avoid working out in that particular area.

Drink Water

Water is an answer for a lot of problems. When exercising, your throat may get dry due to the low humidity in the atmosphere. To balance the loss of moisture in your body because of sweating while exercising, drink as much water as you can. Water intake is very necessary or you may have to face dehydration. One way to follow this exercise tip is to drink small quantities of water at regular intervals in between workouts.

Mild Exercises

During winters you can also opt for indoor exercises like Yoga, Dancing and Meditation. These exercises help to rejuvenate the body functioning and reduce stress, without suffering the freezing cold outside.