9 WINTER WORKOUTS YOU SHOULD TRY OUT

Swap up your drab winter workouts for these nine! They are fun, outdoorsy and just what you need to burn some calories.

ICE SKATING

Ice-skating gives you a full-body workout. When you ice skate, your body powers its movements through your glutes. What's more, ice skating works the adductors and abductors in your legs. Besides, you have to maintain a correct posture to ice skate. To do this, you need to work out your core, obliques and lower back muscles.

Titbit:

Ice skating can burn 800 to 1200 calories in an hour.

SNOW-GA

Who said you should do yoga only in the comfort of your home? Put a spin on your yoga sessions this winter. Spread out your mat in the snow and do some snow-ga. But what's the sense in this? Your body burns calories (passively!) to keep warm. Plus, your body doesn't lose water since you are not sweating. Moreover, if your session is intense, you end up working your whole body - legs, arms, back, shoulders and core.

Titbit: 

• Snow-ga can burn 226 to 335 calories in an hour.

Warning:

• Make sure you are in warm clothing before going out in the cold.

SKINNING

Also known as uphill skiing, skinning is perfect for powering up the quads, hamstrings and glutes as you trudge up along a slope. On top of that, if you are using the poles for support, you end up working out your shoulders, triceps, arms and upper back. Like ice skating, a correct posture is needed and so you also end up working your core and lower back.

Titbit:

Skinning can burn 750 to 1080 calories in an hour.

SNOWSHOEING

For a complete lower body workout, snowshoeing is your go-to winter workout. First off, the weight of your snowshoes combined with the gravity of the snow fires up your hip flexors and hip muscles as you pull up your feet every step you take. Besides, since snowshoes are bigger than regular shoes, they make you walk with your legs wide apart. This powers up your thigh muscles too.

Titbit:

Snowshoeing can burn 570 to 840 calories in an hour.

SKIING

Another lower-body winter workout. No wonder skiers have strong legs. You use your thighs (inner and outer) and hips to glide along when you ski. On top of that, you work out your quads because your knees are constantly bent. What's more, you fire up your feet which are moving as directed by the muscles in your shins and calves. Lastly, when you make a 180-degree turn as you descend a slope, your obliques and torso are engaged as well.

Titbit:

Skiing can burn 450 to 670 calories in an hour.

TRAIL RUNNING

Running is not limited to the sidewalks of your neighbourhood in 100-degree weather. Even in the winter, you can kick up a run as long as you wear the right gear. Running is a good cardio workout you can't miss out on this winter. It keeps your tinker healthy, and most fitness experts have voted it as the best workout for burning calories per hour.

Titbit:

Trail running can burn 566 to 839 calories in an hour.

Pro-tip:

For running in snowy conditions, you need: 

• a pair of thermal leggings, 
• an insulated jacket and 
• winter running shoes (with waterproofing, heat technology and spikes for snowy terrains).

Warning:

Only run in shoes with a lot of traction to prevent a fall.

SLEDDING

Did you know sliding downhill on a sled is cardio? Shocker, huh? According to fitness experts, it's an amazing way to fire up your heart. Plus, it powers the leg muscles. In addition, as you steer the sled, your arms and obliques get an excellent workout.

Titbit:

Sledding can burn 400 to 600 calories in an hour.

SNOWBOARDING

Snowboarding is another winter workout for your core. Why? Because you need to keep your balance by shifting your weight from one side to the other. While you do this, your core or obliques are engaged as they rotate your torso. In addition, you use your feet, hips and glutes to turn and make your way down a slope - and this powers up your entire lower body muscles.

Titbit:

Snowboarding can burn 300 to 450 calories in an hour.

SCENIC HIKING

Not only is this winter workout good for you physically but mentally as well. The idea is to go for a brisk walk in the snow while taking in the scenery. Apart from working your leg muscles and being good cardio, it exposes you to sunlight. This gives you a healthy dose of vitamin D and puts SAD at bay. 

Titbit:

• Scenic Hiking can burn 300 to 450 calories in an hour.

 

 

By Nana Ama Afoa Osae I Writer I GreatWonderful Team

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