Working Out in the Winter

Western Pennsylvania weather can make it difficult to have any activity outside in the cold.  Sometimes running from my heated car in the parking lot to the grocery store and back feels like an Olympic feat.  Not to mention, that it gets dark so much earlier making it much more likely for us to want to curl up with a blanket rather than go outside.   Fighting all of these things can make it hard to exercise in the winter.  But a few newer inventions have made it easier to switch up your indoor exercise routine.  First it was the VCR, then DVD’s, and now Youtube can supply you with different activities to get your fitness level up.  A quick search of Youtube led me to a boat load of free yoga videos.  I chose one by “Yoga with Adriene”, because it was about 15 minutes long and it was seated.  I hadn’t ever done a seated yoga so I didn’t know what to expect.  The only thing required was a chair without sides.  The workout didn’t raise my heart rate, but it did provide a nice stretch to my legs, shoulders, and back.  The focus on deep breathing was the same as an in-person class and I was more relaxed when I completed the video.  I can see how this type of activity could benefit the people we support in maintaining balance and strength.  It would be a fun activity to do by yourself or as a group.  A suggestion would be to host it as a social event with people from different community homes coming together to do chair yoga and sharing some healthy snacks.  As with any activity, always consult with the physician to make sure it is appropriate.