The Best And Most Fun Exercises To Do In The Snow

Snow football (or soccer) may very well be the only two kids of sports that you can play to the fullest in a city covered with feet of snow. The field is much smaller so you can score much faster. It will probably take two runs. When you are tackled or get sacked, you fall on the snow, which is a much softer surface than concrete or turf. Oh, and the benefits of playing a sport are obvious, so we'll skip them right now.

Running on snow is a little more dangerous than running in the park when the temperature is 75 degrees. The snow (and possibly ice) presents you with a challenge and the body needs to put in about 25 percent more effort simply because it's harder. But it's also low-impact because the snow if soft.  So dress appropriately and go. Test yourself.

Don't let the snow change your plans to go see your friends. Ski there. Skiing is a terrific cardio workout, which means lower risk of heart problems and more energy. Cross-country skiing is also a natural form of interval training, which is a kind of drills many instructors are recommending for better and faster results.

Think of it as resistance training, which mean you're building muscle, which means you're boosting your metabolism, which means you're burning more calories. Basically, you have no excuse not to get the kids out and the sled uphill a bunch of times. Walking uphill is also a good cardio exercise.

Why not? You work on your balance, quickness and strength. When you are on the ground your body is not pressed against a hard mat but against powder snow.

There aren't a lot of reasons why not to build a snowman. You have fun with the kids and you move your body up and down a lot, activating your back and leg muscles. Your hands also get a workout from all the shaping and hardening the snow.

This may not be so obvious but stepping only in others' footprints is a great stretch – keeping you flexible – especially if the person who walked in front of you takes big steps. This fun activity resembles lunging very much. Do a squat after each step to add a little more intensity.

Snowshoeing is a remarkable winter activity. Not only do you move around faster but you also are improving your aerobic engine. It's like an easier form of running that helps you build core strength. It feels like running up a low hill. Think of this as one of the cheapest ways to stay fit in the winter when snow is a problem. You can burn about 500 calories by snowshoeing for an hour.

If you think about it, by shoveling you are actually doing squats, twists (working the obliques), lunges (pushing the snow as opposed to lifting lowers the risk of back injuries), and deadlifts. The last one especially works your entire body like very few exercises.

This is a really good overall training and it involves cardio combined with strength exercises. It's basically a high-intensity interval training but one that last for two and a half hours. Do that and feel free to skip the gym for the next two days. You do a lot of digging, using your legs and core, and a lot of building, using your arms and shoulders.