As temperatures steadily dip over the next few months, our favorite outdoor workouts are moved inside for the winter, leaving us outdoor enthusiasts scrambling for ways to get in vigorous workouts. Fortunately, there are still plenty of ways you can work up a serious sweat and make gains during the cold months besides pounding the treadmill. So to help you stay in shape during the freezing cold of winter, we’ve listed some hot indoor workouts, specially designed for the demands of the outdoor enthusiast.
Basketball is an outstanding way to torch calories and work up a serious sweat, and you can play on your own or join a night or weekend league with friends. Because basketball keeps you in constant motion, shooting hoops helps you build cardiovascular endurance, making it a great alternative for runners and cyclists in the winter. When you consider that basketball helps you burn hundreds of calories an hour, everyone’s a winner, no matter what the score is at the end of the game.
Indoor Rock Climbing. Sure, it’s not as extreme as the real thing, but indoor rock climbing offers an incredibly intense and lasting full-body workout that you just don’t get with weight lifting and running. If you can’t get to an indoor rock climbing facility, check to see if your gym has a Jacob’s Ladder. Performed at a high intensity, a Jacob’s Ladder engages every muscle in your body from head to toe, providing a lasting burn that torches calories even after the workout is completed.
Kickboxing. Cardio kickboxing is all the rage for a reason — it works. Not only does it help you burn a few hundred calories an hour, but cardio kickboxing helps you develop core strength, superior hand-eye coordination, and muscle tone throughout your body. To top it off, it’s a great stress reliever as well.
Ice Skating. Yeah, it’s chilly inside the rink, but you won’t feel the cold once you get those legs churning at a steady pace. Like kickboxing, ice skating is great for developing core strength and toned muscles, and once you get the hang of it, ice skating can be a great way to unwind while shedding calories.
If you like to use an iPod or MP3 player while skating, be sure to leave one ear open so that you can stay aware of other skaters on the rink. A great way to stay safe while skating is by using a single earphone headset, like Far End Gear’s XDU Single Earphone.
The XDU Single Earphone combines both sides of a stereo mix in one ear, so you can stay aware of your surroundings and fully enjoy your favorite music and podcasts. It’s available in both the standard length and Far End Gear’s innovative Short Buds short-cord length, great for use with clip-on mp3 players. In the coming weeks, the XDU Single Earphone Short Buds will also be available at a length for use with armband-style mp3 players, so you don’t have to worry about excess cord catching onto something while you work out.
Swimming. It’s great for your joints and muscles, and like basketball, swimming helps you develop some serious endurance. If you typically lift weights or run, end your workout with a few laps at an indoor pool for some soothing joint relief and a little extra calorie burning.
Take the stairs. Jogging up and down stairs might seem mundane, but take on a few flights of stairs for as little as five minutes, and we promise, your quads and glutes will be on fire.
Spin Class. When the ground is covered in snow, satisfy the urge to ride with a spin class. If you’re not one for spin class, use high-intensity interval training on the stationary bike to make gains throughout the winter. After warming up for a few minutes, pedal at a fast speed for 15 seconds, then pedal at a steady speed for 60 seconds. Repeat this pattern as many times as you can, and gradually increase the incline difficulty over time.
Tell us about your favorite indoor workout in the space below.