Forget about losing winter weight, keeping fit the key during colder months

Rosie Russell

Colder mornings and breezy evenings might be enough to keep us away from the treadmill and the pool this winter, but staying motivated to keep fit is important even if all you want to do is snuggle up and enjoy the warmth of a heater.

Personal trainer at Key Fitness Personal Training, Cara Dennis, believes exercising in winter can be much more beneficial than sweating it out during summer.

“Training in the cold benefits you so much more than training during summer, because your body uses much more energy to keep itself warm,” Dennis says. “Although you should be healthy all year round, 365 days a year, I don’t see why being fit and healthy in summer should be different to being fit and healthy in winter.”

Staying fit in winter certainly has its attractions. There are hundreds of activities to choose from and there is no reason why you can’t improve your fitness and have fun at the same time.

Touch Football

Touch football is a fun way to stay fit and make friends in your community. There are competitions throughout Sydney for many age groups, including the Northern Suburbs Touch Association, which runs spring and autumn competitions. There are social competitions available as well as more competitive ones.

For more information contact: norths@northstouch.asn.au.

Gym Without Walls

From 8:30am every weekday morning in Wahroonga Park the council-run Gym Without Walls is on to get your blood pumping before the day starts. The hour-long session is only $10 for a work out with others from the neighbourhood under the supervision of an accredited instructor.

The workouts vary from week to week – from boxing to strength exercises to step work. All ages are welcome as well as all fitness levels. There are also other bootcamps offered at many gyms and locations throughout Sydney.

Yoga

Yoga is a great way to balance strong training with becoming more flexible, as well as having many other great benefits for the body and mind. Taking an hour out of your day to go through this low-intensity workout can burn calories, tone your muscles and calm your mind. And don’t be afraid to start if you’re not very flexible – instructors accommodate all ability levels and after a few classes, the differences are noticeable. Many gyms now offer yoga classes as well as specialised places.

“In winter, I love going to bikram yoga and hot yoga, and doing stuff that’s warm and indoors so you’re stretching and lengthening and still moving,” Dennis says. “If you’re an unfit person, start with something more gentle, like yoga or pilates or something similar. Winter is one of the best times to start.”

For something different, try yoga under the sea or yoga in the sky. When the pressures of the world have got you stressed, head to Sydney Aquarium’s yoga under the sea classes for a relaxing and tranquil experience. However, if the aquarium is not your thing, try your hand at a bit of yoga on the observation deck of the Sydney Tower. Classes are held every Tuesday morning at the aquarium and every Wednesday at the observation deck.

For bookings visit: www.sydneyaquarium.com.au/experiences/yoga-under-the-sea/
www.sydneytowereye.com.au/events/yoga-from-the-sky/

Social tennis

Ku-ring-gai council runs social tennis competitions at various locations during the week, including St Ives, Gordon and Killara. You can enter in either singles or doubles and the cost is only $10. Tennis has lasting health benefits – it is a non-impact sport that increases fitness and muscle tone, as well as being helpful to reduce stress. Social tennis is suitable for all ages and skill levels.

For more information call: 9424 0802

Walking

Walking is one of the cheapest and easiest methods of exercising. Walking briskly for only 30 minutes has been shown to have many benefits, including strengthening bones, reducing body fat, boosting endurance and reducing the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers and osteoporosis.

While there are many beautiful walking tracks throughout Sydney, Dennis warns you have to be dressed for the season. “Definitely start walking outdoors, but it does become a lot harder to motivate yourself when it gets colder,” Dennis says. “If you can, walk in the middle of the day or put a jumper and beanie on, and walk at night.”

However, if exercising by yourself is becoming tiring, the Heart Foundation run many free walking groups around Sydney.

For more information, contact the Heart Foundation on: www.heartfoundation.org.au

Personal training

While one of the more expensive options, personal training is the most flexible way of exercising and is tailored just for you. Not only that, but you are held accountable for missing appointments. Personal trainers teach you how to workout properly and safely, so you can get the full benefits of your gym membership and create your own workout which provides maximum results in minimum time. Dennis suggests you should always keep an open mind. “Try something you haven’t done before. If you’re an outdoors person, move indoors or just change up your whole routine.”