Seasonal fitness is a way of varying your exercise routine in accordance with nature’s cycles. If you think about it, humans respond heavily to changes in the seasons, when it’s warm and sunny we prefer to be outside socialising, when it’s cold and dark we turn inwards and spend more time at home.
But what has that got to do with fitness?
For starters, it’s super easy to get stuck in a rut when it comes to working out. Just take a quick look around the gym during your next visit – the same faces tend to be at the same machines doing the same workouts that they have been doing for months. The problem with this way of working out is that it doesn’t maximise the body’s potential. By sticking to the same routine every week, you limit yourself to a strict set of training moves that don’t push the body in the way you are hoping it will.
And, let’s be honest, it’s boring. Lift. Run. Stretch. Shower. Repeat. Week in and week out.
By working with the seasons, you can freshen up your routine every few months and create a tailored workout plan that addresses how your body feels in each season. Don’t fancy swimming in the winter? Take up a meditative practice like yoga instead. Want to make the most of the summer sun? Stop working out in the gym!
By following nature’s cues, you can make the most out of the seasons to reach your physical peak.
Spring
As the days start to lengthen and flowers begin to bloom, spring is the perfect time to set new fitness goals and set about achieving them. Lifting is a great spring activity as it is centred around the idea of growth, so work with a personal trainer to get your new year off to a strong start. Indoor activities such as rock climbing, aerial yoga or trapeze are an ideal way to push yourself out of your comfort zone.
Summer
The summer months are not to be wasted on the running machine. This is a time to be outside, working out with others in group activities. Join a volleyball team or take up tennis to build relationships and make new friends. Start swimming in the sea, try surfing or go hiking in the mountains.
Autumn
Autumn signals the transition across to quieter, more introspective times. The season is all about letting go, so look at any bad fitness habits you have developed and find ways of releasing them. This is a good opportunity to take up a dance class or spend some time working on circuits to condition your body and quieten the mind.
Winter
There are many people who set unrealistic goals during the winter, such as losing weight and getting fit before spring, but this is a time when your body wants to do the complete opposite. Remember, it’s natural for your body to store extra fat during the colder months. Instead of continuing to hit it hard when all you want to do is stay in bed, take up calming physical practices such as yoga, Pilates, tai chi and qigong to keep your body moving but without the stress of losing weight.
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