Tips for Being SummerActive When Mother Nature Isn’t Cooperating

Canada is such a large country that summer means different things to Canadians in different regions. While it might be delightfully mild in the North while Easterners bask in warm ocean breezes, it could be raining cats and dogs in the West and positively sweltering in central Canada.

Whatever weather Mother Nature brings you this summer, don’t forget that there are many ways to be physically active indoors, so you can still enjoy being active even if you’re not keen to go outside for a few days.

Here are some reminders of all the physical activities you can try that aren’t weather-dependent:

• Turn on the radio or your favorite CD and move to the beat in your living room.
• Meet new people by checking out physical activity programs at your community centre, local Y, seniors' centre, or private fitness club.
• Jump rope in your basement or garage.
• Wash the floors until they sparkle.
• Watch a fitness show on TV to learn new yoga movements or stretching exercises.
• Join a mall-walking program.
• Do some stretching every day while listening to the news.
• Try an aqua fitness program or other swimming activity at your local community pool or fitness centre.
• Use music you like for stepping, hopping or jumping in place.
• Walk the stairs in your house, apartment or workplace.
• Take up T'ai Chi.
• Learn how to folk or line dance.
• Use soup cans to challenge your arm muscles with bicep curls.
• Practice your rowing, running or cycling on machines at a recreation centre or fitness club.
• Walk the halls of your apartment building or workplace.
• Create an indoor exercise circuit – walk up and down stairs; march around the house; do push-ups in the living room; try crunches in the bedroom and jumping jacks in the kitchen.
• Check out the open skating sessions at the local rink.
• Practice progressive relaxation, tensing each body segment and then relaxing in turn (head, neck, shoulders, right arm, right hand, left arm, left hand, etc.).
• Build a mini obstacle course in the basement or garage.
• Use an indoor bench or steps for a step-aerobic workout.
• Invent a new dance and name it after your family or share dances from each generation in your family.
• Make an indoor hopscotch by using masking tape to outline the boxes on the floor.

Remember, even in the dog days of summer, every little bit of physical activity helps, but more is better. The more you do, the better you'll feel! Increase your activities as your body adjusts to your new physically active lifestyle.