Cooler Fitness Alternatives

I have no official motto for my columns or my blog but if I did it would probably be “get up and get out.”  When you boil my writing down to the bare bones, that is always the message – get up and get out. But it is hot and humid out there.  Who in their right mind wants to go out in the soup that is summer in Maryland?

While many endurance athletes are still out there toughing it out, albeit usually early in the morning in order to avoid the heat of the day, many of us have begun to look for alternatives to our normal outdoor activities.  We can think of this as wimping out or we can stop beating ourselves up and starting thinking of it as an opportunity to try something new.  We can think of it as a way to break out of our everyday routines. 

Instead of avoiding working out altogether because of the heat, why not try one of these five local fitness alternatives?

1. Try a new class – Most of the year, I am not a class kind of girl.  I don’t like the restraints of a schedule.  But during the summer when my time is a little freer, it is nice to try something new.   Whether it is a Zumba class at Transformations, a Drums Alive class at Big Vanilla or the Easy Fit program at Snap Fitness, heading inside can add a little spice to your regular fitness schedule.
2. Work on your trouble spot – During the twenty years I have been training for road races, I have read over and over again about the benefits of yoga.  Even knowing that increased flexibility would help me avoid many of the injuries I have suffered with in the past, I seldom incorporate it as part of my program.  But, right now is the perfect time to add it to my routine.  Mountain Yoga and most of our local gyms offer classes for everybody from the beginner to the expert.
3. Head to the pool – Whether it is your neighborhood pool, one of the county pools or the pool at the gym, being in the water makes any summer day cooler.  The pool is much a much more versatile fitness alternative than it is given credit for.  Whether you choose to swim laps, take a water aerobics class or actually convert your outside run to a water run, the pool adds an extra level of resistance and can help you maintain your endurance until the weather cools enough for daily outdoor activities.
4. Try your hand at a paddle sport – For two weeks this summer I had the opportunity to kayak everyday.  Because I didn’t think of it as exercise before I began I was shocked by the effort it took to move myself and my kayak through the water.  Each day I felt myself getting stronger.  In Pasadena, the opportunities for water sports are abundant.  And although these sports are obviously outdoor activities, being on the water is always just a little more pleasant than being on the roads.
5. Take up a racquet sport – Though there are no racquetball or indoor tennis courts in Pasadena, there are several close by.  Big Vanilla and Severn Valley both offer indoor tennis in the county and Severna Park Racquetball and Fitness has eight racquetball courts with tournaments several times throughout the year.  The fast pace and constant movement of both sports adds a new element to any fitness routine and has the added benefit of being social sports.

Though running, biking and walking outside is still doable with attention paid to hydration, adding some indoor activities throughout the summer is a great way to mix up our workouts while adding just a little more comfort to each workout.  It also gives us the opportunity to step outside of our comfort zone, adding something new to our fitness routine and giving us a fall back plan other times of the year when, whether because of the weather or because of an injury or scheduling, running, biking or walking might not be available to us.