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I don't understand them myself, but I have heard it rumored that there are many people who love winter weather. And they want to do things in it.
They revel in bundling up and trudging through snow. They like the feeling of having Jack Frost nipping at their noses.Some of them even like to slip around on the ice. Or as they call it, skating. They say it's great for reinforcing balance and coordination.
And for those who can stay up on their blades, swooshing around the rink or frozen pond is good for the heart, the muscles and burning off the eggnog.
Skiing comes in two varieties, cross-country and downhill style. Other than the fact that both types involve wielding unwieldy skis, the workouts are quite different.
Cross-country skiing works out the whole body, and is good for your heart, while being somewhat kind to your joints. Downhill skiing is a more intense experience, that develops muscles and increases a skier's endurance. Both skiing experiences will burn a satisfying amount of calories as well.
Snowshoes look a bit like tennis racquets but they're meant for your feet and not your hands. And snowshoes are friendly to your backside and thighs.
The extra weight provided by the snowshoes provides an extra workout for this strategic area that is the bane of many women's existence. As a bonus, snowshoes also allow you to walk on very deep snow without sinking up to your eyebrows.
Nordic walking is another way of traversing the snow. It's also called poling, due to the pole in either hand as you trudge along.
A snowboard is like a skateboard with the wheels taken off. Being realistic about the possibility of hurtling from a snowboard is a good idea, and so is wearing knee pads, wrist guards and a helmet.
If these hearty activities sound a bit too ambitious to you but you'd like to be bold and get outside, take heart. Walking through the snow, across the ice, or on the frozen dirt (depending on how snowy your particular climate tends to be) is still the healthy exercise it was in the summertime.
And though the beauty of summer is hibernating, you can enjoy the breathtaking sight of a winter sky, and the crisp stillness of the air.
And better yet, you can look forward to some hot soup or tea, or even some hot chocolate to replace some of the calories you burned off on your wintry stroll.
Jody Smith is a freelance writer for EmpowHER.com.
Sources:
5 ideas for winter exercise
Winter Fitness: 9 Healthy Outdoor Cold-Weather Workouts
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/28/winter-fitness-outside-seasonal-sports_n_1171917.html
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