As the summer advances, many of us will find the sun shining bright before we lug ourselves out of bed. Going for that much needed morning walk will become even more difficult. If summers are particularly hot in your part of the world, outdoor activities may not be fun even in the mornings and evenings. You may find yourself missing out on your running, jogging and cycling. However, there are pleasurable and feasible ways of catching up on physical activity indoors. Do not let the weather be your excuse for being sluggish. Pick up something that you will enjoy and stay fit through the heat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the summer advances, many of us will find the sun shining bright before we lug ourselves out of bed. Going for that much needed morning walk will become even more difficult. If summers are particularly hot in your part of the world, outdoor activities may not be fun even in the mornings and evenings. You may find yourself missing out on your running, jogging and cycling. However, there are pleasurable and feasible ways of catching up on physical activity indoors. Do not let the weather be your excuse for being sluggish. Pick up something that you will enjoy and stay fit through the heat.

Aerobic Dance and Weight Training

Aerobic exercise improves the health of your heart and lungs by making you breathe more deeply and your heart work harder to pump blood. Do not sulk if the heat is making outdoor activities (such as walking or running) impossible and you do not have access to a treadmill. You can pamper your heart and lungs by taking up aerobic dance. Aerobic dance combines exercise and dance movements into a set of steps that you perform with music. Learning aerobic dance means always being equipped with an enjoyable way to stay fit. Combine it with some weight training and you have a complete fitness program in place. Weight training is great for building muscle strength. It helps burn calories more efficiently and also helps to increase bone density. Starters can use dumbbells or just about anything that weighs around 2.5 kgs and is easy to grasp. 

 

Skip it!

Skipping is a fun physical activity that requires minimal equipment and space. It?s a great cardiovascular workout with benefits similar to running on the treadmill. In fact, it is less strenuous on the joints and therefore a safe option for people who have recently started exercising. You can do it just about anywhere and carry the exercise gear required (that is the rope) along with you in the smallest of travel-bags. Just make sure that the length of the rope is right for your height. Check it by standing on the centre of the rope, and lifting the handles upward. The point where the handles meet the rope should be at the level of your armpits.

Stay Fit with Yoga

The ancient art of yoga has one advantage that we often overlook. Except for a Yoga mat (or any mat that you have at home), it?s a zero equipment fitness and relaxation method. Though it is advisable to learn yoga from a trained instructor to begin with, once you have learnt the asanas it?s a great way to keep your mind and body in top working condition.  Yoga has been shown to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate. A slower heart rate can benefit people with hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. Studies also point to an association between yoga and decreased cholesterol and triglyceride levels as well as a boost in immune system function.

Workout at your Home Gym

 

If you have the budget and the space, investing in some basic home gym equipment is an idea worth considering. Having a treadmill, some weight sets, a stationary bike etc right in your home will allow you to keep up your fitness regime irrespective of the weather. You will also have the flexibility to exercise whenever you have some time and help you save up on the time spent going to your fitness club.

Play with the Kids

Mum is watching her favorite soap, dad is dozing on the couch, and the kids are playing a video game. Sounds like the typical scene at a home on weekend afternoons? Well, when it?s burning hot outside there is often little else that adults and kids can do to entertain themselves. But if you are committed to catching up on your physical activity you could make use of this time by playing with the kids. No, we don?t mean the video-game. Think of something that will make you move. Simple kid activities like hide and seek, running behind the toy-train, playing catch-and-throw with a soft ball will make you burn more calories than sleeping on the sofa. Of course, the parent-child bonding that you get is a priceless bonus.

Take up Active Housework

If it's already too sunny to go for your morning walk by the time you get up, you can get your quota of physical activity by helping with some active housework. Seemingly easy chores like watering the plants and dusting the living room windows will make you move some muscles and win some grateful smiles from whoever usually does this housework. Most importantly, you will not be spending your walking time sitting in front of the TV sipping extra cups of tea, because this apparently innocuous activity along with the missed walk could together mean weight gain over a period of time.

Go Window Shopping

You have not bought anything after browsing through heaps of clothes on sale at the mall, but at least one good thing has come out of it. You have been walking! If you are motivated enough to not undo the benefit of walking by always combining it with snacking, you can burn a remarkable number of calories as you window shop. Carry a water bottle in your bag and enjoy everything on display in the mall. Well, this suggestion is not for compulsive shoppers because they will also end up burning a hole in their pockets along with the calories. For those who can see some fun in plain window-shopping, it could mean a rather active pastime compared to sitting at a restaurant or the theatre.

Learn Salsa

 

 

You have been thinking of joining the gym for the past couple of months, but now that it?s already getting hot, breaking into a sweat each morning does not look like an appealing idea. Okay, if you want to postpone joining the gym, you can still start getting into shape by joining a dance class. Most dance forms are great for your body and mind. If you do not care to join a professional class, you can do some self-learning at home by getting some DVDs and imitating the steps. Remember, the idea is not to make you an expert at dancing, but to get you moving in a way that you enjoy. If your partner is enthused by this option, the two of you could have some great time together and dance away to fitness.