Winter Wellness: Staying Active, Beating the Chill, and Boosting Happiness!
Okay so we are officially in winter and while we may still get mild days here in Perth, we do also get some cold, wet and wild weather.
Winter is usually the time when we hunker down and start consuming the comfort food. Unfortunately, this may lead to increased inflammation in our bodies due to the lack of movement and potentially increased consumption of sugar, unhealthy fats, and processed foods. Those of you with arthritis or inflammatory conditions probably know all about experiencing increased pain and stiffness in the joints during winter causing discomfort and decreased mobility which again may contribute to increased inflammation. Lastly increased exposure to viruses means our bodies may be launching an inflammatory response to fight these.
And what about your mood? It is well known that exposure to sunshine makes us feel good by boosting serotonin levels, your “happy hormone” and increasing Vitamin D synthesis. People can suffer from low mood or even seasonal affective disorder (SAD) which is a type of depression experienced in autumn and winter which may be triggered by the shorter days with less daylight. Vitamin D levels may lower due to less exposure to daylight which again can contribute to increased inflammation in our bodies.
Exercise is great for having anti-inflammatory and mood boosting effects but how can we stay motivated to keep moving when it’s so nice and warm inside under the doona?
For those of you who want to brave the cold outside in the mornings try sleeping in your workout clothing. When you wake up in the mornings you’re already in warm gear and just have to chuck on your trainers & grab the water bottle. Easy!! If you prefer exercising in the evenings remember to wear thinner layers so you can de-layer as you warm up, then re-layer as you cool down. Wearing waterproof outer layers may heat you up quicker so you may need to wear fewer layers underneath so you don’t overheat.
Set yourself a winter fitness challenge and monitor your progress so you can maintain motivation during the winter months. It can be as simple as mastering a yoga pose or holding a plank for a set amount of time with the goal to achieve it by the 1stof September when spring begins!
If going outside is your worst nightmare there are loads of yoga and Pilates videos on YouTube that are designed for an indoor work out in a small area like your living room. It means you can still move your body and work up a sweat during the worst of the weather when it might be challenging for even the keenest exercise enthusiast to get outside.
There is some great dance off/movement videos on YouTube kids to get everyone involved, the personal favourites in our household are Bluey floor is lava and “Ka-Pow!” Superhero dance by Danny Go! (actually, anything by Danny Go! is a winner for my boys).
Perth has some great family-friendly winter activities for when it’s yuck outside ranging from bouncing on trampolines, rock climbing, roller skating, and obstacle courses all available inside. If you don’t mind being in the cold you could try ice-skating. All these activities will let you get physical activity while staying dry! Well maybe not the ice-skating if you end up on the floor as much as I do!
Lastly don’t forget to stay on track with your chiropractic appointments. Chiropractic adjustments can help improve or restore the motion to the joints of your spine which in turn allows more normal motion and function of your spine. This may improve your mobility, flexibility, endurance and reduce your risk of injury. Chiropractic adjustments can also support your immunity!!
Happy moving everyone!!