Baby it’s cold outside but is that a good excuse for not getting quite as much exercise and we did in the Spring, Summer, and Fall? Unless you have a dog that forces you to walk outside two or three times a day, it is sometimes hard to pry ourselves out the door. Don’t let dropping temperatures be a deterrent to getting regular exercise.
First, there is a simple solution for venturing outside when the weather can be a bit frightful even if it is to drive to an indoor facility. It’s a solution that skiers and snowboarders embrace no matter what their age– dress in layers, wear long underwear and wear gloves and a hat. Living Healthy notes that the practice of not wearing a hat equates to wearing shorts or a tank top when temperatures tumble. Basically, you are getting cold if you are not covered.
Dressing smart in winter is a door opener to winter exercise so there really is NO excuse NOT to get regular exercise in the winter. Here are some suggestions.
Indoor treadmills, exercise machines, yoga classes, spinning, group fitness programs and personal training programs are abundant in the Rehoboth Beach area. Fitness centers include the new Planet Fitness which now occupies the space vacated by Bed, Bath and Beyond. Everyone Fitness and Midway Motion and Fitness are two of the more established centers. Each offers membership programs that can help motivate regular visits and, in some cases, membership might be free. For example, Midway offers free membership to those who have the AARP United Healthcare Insurance and Silver Sneakers. It’s best to contact each facility for details on their membership fees.
Other options are the Sussex County YMCA which offers a wide range of programs, the Lewes Senior Activity Center and the Cape Henlopen Senior Center in Rehoboth. The Cape Henlopen even offers ballroom dancing and the Lewes Center Has a few variations on the exercise theme with line dancing, strength and balance, and La Blast along with chair yoga, regular yoga and ball and band exercise. La Blast is a partner-free dance fitness program developed by Louis Van Amstel of Dancing with the Stars fame.
Simple walking is always at the top of the list for good exercise. Dressing in layers when it is cold is crucial to making this an enjoyable experience. Think hat and gloves as well.
Indoor swimming is a popular option among some seniors. The YMCA in Rehoboth offers various programs for adults and kids. Sussex Academy in Georgetown is another option although new memberships are on hold right now. Newbies can still inquire.
Of course, pickleball is quickly becoming known as the fastest growing sports in the country but it does require a certain level of skill to be safe and effective. Dave Marshall’s Tennis and Pickleball has indoor and outdoor options.
Just plain walking is one of the easiest and most impactful forms of exercise if done at a brisk pace whether it is done indoors on a treadmill or outside in a neighborhood or nearby state park. Again, dressing in layers is key for outdoor walking. As the body heats up, there is always the option of removing a layer if necessary. Cape Henlopen State Park and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge are just two nearby selections for outdoor walking while also providing an opportunity to explore nature.
By Mary Jo Tarallo, Resident Journalist
Mary Jo Tarallo spent much of her career in public relations with various non-profits and spent 40 years involved with the ski industry as a journalist, public relations director for a national trade association and as executive director of the Learn to Ski and Snowboard initiative. Prior to her ski industry involvement she worked for the Maryland International Center in Baltimore and United Way of Central Maryland. She won a Gold Award for TV programming for a United Way simulcast that starred Oprah Winfrey. She has been cited for her work by numerous organizations. Mary Jo grew up in Baltimore, attended the University of Maryland and Towson University, lived in Washington, DC for 21 years and has been a full time resident of Rehoboth Beach and Milton since May 2019.
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