These days seem like they are best spent wrapped under a cozy blanket with a hot beverage and daydreaming of warmer weather, and for many of us the thought of bundling up to go outside to exercise, even to the gym, seems unpleasant. Our bodies, however, are big fans of “use it or loose it”, especially when it comes to our muscles. So if you’re not using muscles in the same ways that you do during other times of the year, your muscles will inevitably experience some level of atrophy, or a decrease in size and strength.
Keeping your body moving not only helps make your muscles and bones happy, but exercise is also good for our mental health by releasing natural endorphins, which are hormones released by glands in our brain, that can help reduce pain and improve our mood. So before we know it, Springtime will be just around the corner!
Here are a few ways to help keep you moving, to help keep those muscles happy, and to help stave off the winter doldrum blues.
1. Start Small and Simple
This is especially true if you have not done much exercise over the past few weeks or months! Find 15-20 minutes each day that you can spend doing some simple exercises that get you moving. Even if this is split up between commercials of your favorite show, while your kids are napping, or during your lunch break at work; set a reminder on your phone to help you stick with it!
2. Pick Your Own Party
You are far more likely to stick with something that you enjoy doing! If you love dancing and fun music, try a zumba or shuffle dance class. If you enjoy relaxation, meditation, and stretching, then try yoga or pilates. If you love to ride a bicycle, then try a spin class. If you don’t like working out in front of other people or find it challenging to get out to a gym because of busy work or family schedules, there are plenty of online exercise class options to try from home.
3. Find a Work Out Friend
Life is better with a buddy, especially when it comes to exercise! Ask a friend, neighbor, family member or coworker to join you in your chosen activity. Accountability is very helpful for sticking with a commitment to exercise, especially when it’s chilly outside, and you may be surprised to find that they were looking for an exercise buddy too!
If you have concerns about a lingering pain in your back or other joints, or if you start exercising and find a new pain you haven’t experienced before, please give our office a call at 703-450-4300. We would love to help get you moving pain-free again!
Proudly offering physical therapy near you! We serve the local towns: Sterling, Potomac Falls, Ashburn, Broadlands, Herndon, Reston, Great Falls, Chantilly, Leesburg, Lansdowne, Manassas and more! CLICK HERE to request an evaluation!
