Staying Active All Winter: Indoor Physical Activities for Adults

— Written By Dee Decker and last updated by
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Senior couple lifting weightsDuring the winter months, when there are few daylight hours, keeping active while being indoors can be a challenge. Here are a few ideas to keep you moving that keep you close to home.

Stretching. It is important to take breaks and move our bodies, especially if we are at a computer or in the same place all day long. Standing and reaching hands above your head can offer relief. Slow, deep breaths while stretching help to rejuvenate the body with oxygen. If you have access to the internet, check out free yoga videos and learn to stretch properly.

Stairs. If you have access to them, stairs can be a great resource for physical activity. Start slow with one trip up or down. Over time and depending on your comfort level, you can build up to several passes to keep yourself challenged.

Laps Around the House. This can be done inside or outside depending on the weather and the amount of time you have. If you have pets, they might enjoy a quick trip outside for a walk.

Lift Weights. If you don’t have access to weights, you can use canned foods as weights. If you’re new to weight lifting, start with 5-10 repetitions. As you feel more comfortable, you can add multiple rounds of repetitions.

HIIT Workouts. High-intensity interval training workouts are popular. Don’t be intimidated by the name. You can start by doing only 5 minutes of HIIT. HIIT consists of alternating timed high-intensity activities and low-intensity activities. For example, do 40 seconds of jumping jacks (high intensity) and 20 seconds of walking in place (low intensity) for a total of five minutes.

Senior lady stretching

Always work at a pace that is a comfortable challenge and safe for your body.

Written By

Dee Decker, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionDee DeckerExtension Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences Call Dee Email Dee N.C. Cooperative Extension, Swain County Center
Updated on Dec 9, 2022
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