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Frost, wind, slush… Many of us don’t want to go outside in winter, let alone play sports. But in vain! Physical activity in cold weather is even more important and beneficial than in warm weather. So we stop hiding under the covers and choose an activity to our liking.
I love winter sports… watch on TV. Especially when the Olympics! This statement was signed by 2013% of Russians in 75, according to the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM). It will be possible to enjoy the next competitions from February 9 to 25, during the days of the Olympics in Pyeongchang (South Korea). However, in recent years, according to VTsIOM, the statistics of “lazy contemplators” have slightly improved. Our compatriots, in principle, began to go in for sports more (by 15%), including in winter.
But for the northern country, the numbers are still disappointing. Our brothers in cold climates, Finns and Norwegians, from young to old, ski. The opening of the season is their national holiday. And in Sweden, at the end of February, sports holidays are organized in schools so that families can go to the mountains – go skiing and snowboarding. By the way, the average life expectancy in these countries exceeds 80 years. Need more reasons to take up winter sports? We have them.
The best reason to love winter
Get on your skis and you’ll be impatiently waiting for the thermometer to drop below zero and the first snowflakes to spin in the air. And in the summer – with longing to remember the frosty dust flying in the face, dangerous turns on the highway and even falling into a snowdrift. You will begin to carefully prepare for the new season, choosing clothes and equipment. What is the secret of falling in love with skiing?
“At the moment of sliding, we experience stress, and the body begins to actively secrete hormones,” explains psychophysiologist Alexander Chernorizov. “Adrenaline causes a surge of energy and a feeling of cheerfulness, endorphins – a feeling of pleasure and even euphoria.” Fear is replaced by delight and a sense of flight. You will want to experience this state again and again.
A means of combating the blues
Any physical activity stimulates the release of endorphins – hormones of happiness, which we lack so much in the cold season.
“In winter, nature falls asleep, and many people, even those who go in for sports in the summer and often go out into nature, fall into apathy,” explains psychologist and body therapist Dmitry Berger. – This is not surprising: slush, cold, and the usual sports – walking, running, cycling – are inaccessible or much less comfortable. However, having stopped exercising, we fall into a trap that threatens with serious changes not only in the physical, but also in the psychological state. The combination of winter and the city is often depressing, so you definitely need to choose an activity for yourself and be in the fresh air more often.
This is a pledge of cheerfulness and good mood.
global recovery
In winter, most gain extra pounds. In the cold, we are drawn to fatty and dense foods – this is inherent in nature. But the good news is that being outdoors in the cold burns more calories. After all, the body spends energy on its own heating. In addition, outdoor activities saturate the blood with oxygen, causing a pleasant clarity of thought, and strengthen the immune system.
“Most winter sports are a load, thanks to which we train not only the cardiovascular system, but also the musculoskeletal system, muscle endurance, flexibility, the respiratory system, and improve joint mobility,” reminds Alena Gribanova, an expert in group fitness programs. -clubs X-Fit.
The choice of the type of winter activity depends on the physical capabilities and desires of a person. “And also on the type of temperament,” adds psychologist Olga Yurkovskaya. – Choleric people often choose snowboarding and skiing, sanguine people – skiing and figure skating. Melancholic and phlegmatic – curling, which does not require much effort. However, this division is conditional, and much depends on the individual.
The most rewarding activity is the one we enjoy.
There is a choice
Scandinavian walking. Suitable for all ages and fitness levels, even recommended for pregnant women and people with Parkinson’s disease. “It is no coincidence that this type of activity is popular in northern countries,” says Dmitry Berger. “There, people are well aware of the need to give the brain the opportunity to reboot, and the body to nourish itself.”
There is a misconception that ski poles are suitable for Nordic walking. This is not true. They do not absorb shock loads, which can injure the joints and spine. Nordic walking poles are made from a special material.
Curling. Again, it does not require training, but it teaches you to think strategically and work in a team. “Here you don’t need a quick reaction and strength, endurance,” says Alena Gribanova. “There is enough intelligence to work out tactics, a good eye and knowledge of physics to calculate the trajectory of the movement of stones.”
Cross-country skiing. Universal sport. “Only beginners need to ski, not run, because the heart is not prepared,” Alena Gribanova warns. “And if you haven’t skied, it’s better to take an instructor.”
Alpine skiing and snowboarding. The most traumatic and extreme sports from the winter list. It is better to learn them at an early age. At the age of 50+, when the bones become more fragile, you need to ride carefully. Everyone needs special protection. But these activities give the most positive emotions associated with high speeds and a certain risk.
Figure skating. Тоже достаточно травматичный спорт. Зато красивый и романтичный. Что может быть прекраснее свидания на катке? К тому же, освоившись, можно тренировать мышцы корпуса, координацию и равновесие.
“In our world, unlike the Game of Thrones series, winter is not the end of the world,” Dmitry Berger jokes. “You just need to prepare well for this period and spend it with benefit.”
Preparatory work
“Before any workout, you need a warm-up,” reminds fitness expert Alena Gribanova. – Do warm-up squats, swing arms, legs, rotations and tilts of the torso, head. Do not forget about stretching, because skiing, curling, and other sports involve amplitude movements.
If the muscles are not prepared, the risk of injury will increase. For example, in skiing, the ankle joint is most at risk, in Nordic walking, the shoulder joint. After a workout, you need to do a hitch to lower your heart rate and restore breathing. It is enough just to calmly walk, breathe and stretch.
Clothing for outdoor activities in winter should be warm, but light, not restricting movement and with a thermoregulation function, so as not to overheat or overcool. Beginners should not get hung up on expensive equipment, they are unlikely to feel the difference. But it’s better not to save too much on equipment, so as not to be surprised why “the skis don’t go”. This can lead to the sport becoming disliked and abandoned.”