By: Trainer Amy Hohman

As the cold weather approaches, many outdoor exercisers dread the idea of moving their workouts indoors. The following tips may help:

• Try a gradual approach to moving indoors: try moving inside for 1-2 days per week will make the adjustment easier.
• View this as a beneficial change; an opportunity to surprise the musculature and maximize effectiveness.
• Find something you enjoy and feel comfortable doing indoors.  Replicating the workout such as walking/running around the track or using a recumbent bike is one option.  Or, try something new such as a new strength training routine or a group exercise class in our extraordinary Fitness Club at the Recreation Center of Highland Park.
• Switching up your workout has benefits that reach beyond the physiological.  Adopting a flexible lifestyle in sports and exercise can lead to increasing your emotional flexibility.  Further, if you are used to exercising alone outdoors, entering a social setting such as a gym may limber up social skills.
• Changing temperatures are inevitable.  Look at this as not “bad” or “good” but a chance to vary a familiar routine or to try something new!