Most people don't mind feeling the cold and see snow leading up to and during the holiday season. It brings back memories as a child playing outdoors, building snowmen, having snowball fights, drinking hot cocoa, and sledding down some awesome hills. Though winter is just beginning as December flows into January, most people are already tired of the freezing temperatures and are looking forward to spring. This negative attitude towards winter can make it seem that it drags on too long, thus making individuals feel sluggish and weary. It can also make people feel depressed and irritable from being inside for long periods. Guess what? It doesn't have to be this way. I would argue the importance of being outdoors will help to relieve the negative outlook most people have about winter. There are so many healthy recreations to do in the outdoors during frosty times.
Learning activities like downhill skiing, snowboarding, or cross-country skiing are a great way to get the blood pumping and drop those extra hoilday pounds. Snowshoeing or hiking in the open air supplies the body a good workout and allows individuals to appreciate nature's quiet, calming experience. Not into skiing or snowshoeing? No problem, head down to the local ice rink and do some ice skating to challenge your balance and work your legs. What's important to remember is that any winter activity you do can be modified to meet your personal needs. All you have to do is dress accordingly and change your perception of how boring winter exercises can be.
Reverse Warrior increases flexibility in the psoas and quads to offset tightness to those muscles from snow sports.
By adding these fun, new endeavors to your life, you'll also activate muscles that you may not typically work. So that's why it's essential to add a solid yoga routine during the winter months to help your body recover. Remember that yoga helps decrease the delayed onset of muscle soreness that we experience after a workout, so your body heals faster to get back into your winter activity. Yoga will also help strengthen your core and improve your balance, which will assist you on the slopes or the trails!
Here is a yoga practice that targets specific muscles used in your snow sports. The yoga flow will also help create balance for the mind, body, and spirit to improve your mood during wintertime.
Enjoy!