While Christmas may typically be associated as a time where you can get away with eating too much chocolate, drinking too much alcohol and not exercising enough, it doesn’t have to be.
Especially in light of the year we have had so far, keeping on top of your health is imperative to ensure your immune system is working as effectively as possible.
So, rather than getting stuck into another tub of Quality Street, why not think instead about getting into shape at home? Or, if you’ve done the hard work already, ensuring you don’t lose that physique you worked so hard on during the summer?
While yes, the evenings may be darker and the weather might be dire, that’s no excuse not to exercise at home, utilising your surroundings in an attempt to improve your fitness.
From at-home gym equipment to golf simulator systems, there are a number of ways to enjoy playing sports from the comfort of your very own living room so, without any further ado, here are a few of the key ones to think about.
General Fitness
Regardless of the sports you normally enjoy playing outside, keeping up with your general fitness is vital – from both a physical and mental perspective.
Whether it be rugby, football, netball, swimming or something else entirely, all sports require you to be in peak physical condition to compete effectively. Therefore, why not put yourself in the shoes of a personal trainer and think about the kinds of exercises they’d encourage you to do?
Press-ups, squats, tricep dips, sit-ups, planks, bicep curls, burpees and wall sits, for example, are all highly effective ways of not only keeping on top of your general fitness but also improving your overall strength as well. Put them in a workout schedule for yourself and stick to it.
Golf
Playing golf in cold, dark weather is no fun at all. So, why not bring the course to your living room instead?
Thanks to the rise of technology, golf simulators have come on significantly over the years and can now utilise a photometric-based tracking system to capture a wide array of data, including your ball’s flight, impact and level of spin.
Similarly, indoor putting greens are a popular option for golfers looking to improve their short game, not only replicating the look and feel of the green itself but enabling you to practice from home without running the risk of getting soaked.
Running
While it’s still entirely possible to run outside at the moment, if you don’t enjoy running alone in the dark, investing in a treadmill can be a great way to keep improving your personal best running times.
If you have a marathon coming up, for instance, your body won’t forgive you for suddenly stopping your training in favour of stuffing yourself with too much chocolate.
At the very least, save the chocolate as a reward for getting your daily run done and out of the way.
Cycling
Cycling is one of those sports that many people actually prefer doing from their own homes, avoiding the need to drift in and out of cars and over uneven surfaces.
So, if you feel the same, why not invest in either an exercise bike or – if you have a bike already – a turbo trainer?
Both of these will allow you to remain stationary as you go through the gears, giving your legs a great workout that’ll burn off at least some of your Christmas dinner.
Yoga
If you enjoy exercising in front of the TV, why not give yoga a try?
Believed to significantly help alleviate a range of mental health issues, yoga is an ancient form of exercise that will improve your strength, flexibility and overall physical wellbeing.
A low-cost exercise, all you need to get started is a yoga mat, a decent virtual trainer and a motivated mindset. Simple.
Final Thoughts…
So, there you have it – five sports you can easily do from the comfort of your own living room over the Christmas break.
While they may not fill you with the same level of enjoyment as participating normally would, these at-home alternatives will at least help keep your overall level of fitness up, allowing you to stay at the top of your game throughout the winter period – and beyond.
