Holidays ensure that you have fun, but for weight watchers they can be a nightmare because you tend to overeat. Working out in bone-chilling winters can be a challenge, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay inside. As the cold wave continues, gym and dance instructors share various dance forms and workout sessions, which will not only help you shed those extra kilos, but will also keep you warm and active in this nippy weather.
Choreographer Sandip Soparrkar suggests Brazilian Samba to build up stamina. “Winters are all about festivity and celebrations. But as it also makes people lazy, Samba a hi-paced exercise always helps. It strengthens your resistance power. It’s a fusion of dance and powerful aerobics. And if one doesn’t want to join classes, it can be easily learnt online.”
Pradeep Adwani, choreographer, Kanhai’s Institute of Performing Arts, suggests hip-hop style for a quick morning warm up. “Unlike Salsa and Jazz, hip-hop works wonders during winters as it’s a vigorous activity, which includes stretching exercises and basic floor patterns together in combinations. Whether you just want to have fun or learn it to stay fit, hip-hop is challenging and dynamic,” he says.
And as walking on a treadmill or going to the gym everyday can get boring and tedious, holistic health guru, Mickey Mehta gives easy workout sessions during winters, which can be done at home. He says, “Health is organic soundness. Basic exercises that can be done at home are warm ups with on the spot jogging or jumping jack for five minutes. This helps improve blood circulation, lubricates joints and improves flexibility. Then do dynamic stretches like six to eight rounds of Suryanamaskars, which involves moving your body parts. Follow this with exercises like leg swing (forward and sideways), calf raise, arm circles and shoulder shrugs.”
He adds that one can even tone their lower body with squats and lunges, abs and crunches. “Finally relax your body by lying down in Shav asana pose for 10 minutes. This will give you a feeling of wholeness, serenity and security and will relieve you of tension and stress,” he sums up.