How To Spend A Rainy Day : Physical Indoor Activities for Every Skill Level
Just because the weather doesn't always play along, doesn't mean you have to be stuck on the sofa. When running, biking or surfing are out of reach, try these five favorites to keep you moving year-round.
Yoga
If you've ever tried exercising with the same yoga DVD more than a handful of times, you know that the excitement of it wore off pretty quickly. Even with the increasing popularity of streaming workouts on platforms such as Amazon Prime, it can be a real struggle to find enough of what you like.
Whether you're traveling, live too far to make a regular trek to your local studio or you've got a hole in your galoshes, Yoga Download lets you stream or download yoga workouts wherever you are. This site specializes in yoga so you'll never have to weed through videos promising 10-minute abs or firmer thighs for moms, and allows you to stream workouts or save them on your local drive for later.
Yoga Download is a new way to enjoy yoga when an in-person yoga class isn't possible. This convenient way to enjoy yoga on your own time comes with a 1-month, 3-month, and yearly subscription option and allows you to browse dozens of yoga styles while narrowing your search by intensity, skill level and length.
Interval Training
If holding poses and deep breathing aren't your idea of an ideal workout, let's talk high intensity interval training. HIIT workouts utilize one or more activities performed quickly at maximum intensity, followed by a very small break. Intervals are commonly associated with the gym because you've got plenty of equipment there, but there's no reason to deprive yourself of the joys a pounding heart just because you're stuck at home.
Use the weight of your own body or a resistance band such as this one to create a wide variety of interval training circuits, or choose just one workout, such as pushups, to concentrate on a single muscle group. Selecting a range of exercises broadens the impact while repeating identical movements ultimately leads to total muscle fatigue.
Although there are a range of ways you can set your watch for interval exercising, tabata workouts are one of our favorite ways to get the blood pumping. Because this workout is over in just four short minutes, it's easier tackle on a regular basis, whether you're short on time or short on enthusiasm.
The tabata timer prompts the user to engage in 20 seconds of work and 10 seconds of rest for eight rounds. While that might sound like a walk in the park, it's strongly advised that beginners pace themselves and utilize movements they're already comfortable with.
Indoor Rock Climbing
Tired of working out in your living room? It's no secret that the most effective workouts are the ones you can do again and again without becoming bored of the routine. The challenges a rock climbing gym offers easily combine with the social aspects of working out to create a fun and interesting workout experience rain or shine.
If you've never tried rock climbing before, there's no need to shy away from the wall. Most rock climbing gyms offer detailed instructions for beginners ,and lend out equipment such as shoes, harnesses and chalk to help ease you into the process without breaking the bank.
If climbing to new heights isn't initially comfortable, consider sticking to the bouldering area. Bouldering is similar to rock climbing, but rarely reaches heights greater than 6 meters. The bottom of gym bouldering areas are padded with a foam thick enough to comfortably break the fall of even the most adventurous climbers, and in time you'll find yourself so engrossed in the process of finding that perfect climbing hold.
Pro Tip:
Climbing is a leg sport. Although it requires all-over body strength and you'll utilize your arms to hang on to your grips, it's your legs that should be doing the work. Push rather than pull, and you'll find yourself climbing much longer without succumbing to muscle fatigue.
Bowling
No one ever said that exercise had to be strenuous. Engaging even in moderate amounts of activity at low intensity brings with it a range of benefits including elevated mood, decreased weight, better bone strength and improved balance. Although the list of low-intensity exercises is likely endless, we find bowling to be one of the more popular choices. We think that's because it's a perfect combination between fun and coordination without any necessary prerequisites. Kids and adults enjoy it alike, and even the dreaded gutterball can be altogether avoided with the use of bumpers.
This social activity can bring friends together on a regular basis, adding to the mental benefits of engaging in regular movement. We recommend saving the beer for another occasion so your bowling league doesn't have a chance to devolve into a social drinking league somewhere along the way.
Dancing
Whether you find yourself gently drumming your hand on the steering wheel of your car or you’re happy to march to the beat of your own drum wherever you go, there's a type of dance out there for you. Dancing can be mindless or skillful, involve a partner or take you on a solo journey and can build balance, coordination and grace over long periods of time. Whether you're interested in tap or jazz, ballroom, salsa or hip-hop, you don't need a lot of know-how or equipment to help you get started.
Many studios or fitness centers offer classes for adult beginners designed to slowly introduce you to basic techniques. Over time, you'll be able to refine your skillset to become more advanced, improving muscle tone, strength and physical endurance in the process.
