Baby, It’s Cold Outside

It’s that time of year again: Snow. Ice. Sleet. Slippery sidewalks, a frigid pull-up bar, and cold barbells. We’re in the thick of winter, and while many of us are still determined to make it to the gym, you might have noticed your body is operating at a slightly slower pace than your mind.

So what can you do?

• Check the workout in SugarWOD before leaving for the gym. If there’s running, consider bringing a hat and gloves.
• Lay out your workout clothes and get your gym bag ready the night before. Make it as easy as possible to get to the gym by removing every possible barrier or hurdle. Streamline your routine.
• Dress in warm layers … and put them back on before leaving the gym! It might be the last thing you want to do after a tough workout, but be kind to your body for everything you just asked it to do in class!
• Jog, run, bike, or walk briskly to the gym. Get your heart rate up and dial in your breathing to prepare your body for the workout ahead. That way you have a head start on getting your body warm before class.
• Dial in a mobility routine. Early morning, pre-bedtime, during lunch break, anything. Just get. It. In. If you can do a little stretching and mobility at home before leaving for the gym, and then jog/run/bike/walk briskly to the gym, even better!
• Scale the warm up. It might sound silly, but if there is a movement in the warm up you are capable of, but don’t feel quite ready for it, ask your coach for an alternative. The point of the warm up is to get you ready for your workout.
• Be your own coach. You know your body better than anyone. Do you have a previous injury? Does your shoulder bother you sometimes? Pay attention to what your body is telling you and respect it. If your shoulder, knee, back, etc. is bothering you, let your coach know—we’re here not only to make sure you get a great workout, but also to make sure you are being safe.
• Embrace it. Remember when we talked about controlling the controllables? Weather is one of those things you cannot control, so best to accept—and even embrace—it. Realize that it is beyond your control, and plan accordingly with any or all of the above strategies!

Hopefully spring is closer than we think and we won’t need this advice much longer (or at least until next year)! Wishing you a warm week ahead, and see you at the box where it is always spicy!

Fearless Reading

If you are interested in truly embracing the cold, check out the Wim Hof Method, which utilizes a combination of cold therapy, breathing, and commitment to reconnect—to ourselves, to others and, to nature. There are oodles of online courses available through his website including this FREE Mini Class. Wim Hof’s website is a wealth of resources, and if you are eager to learn even more, check out his books. Last and certainly not least, our very own Kevin Curran has been a Wim Hof fan for quite a while and recently completed a weekend-long course—ask him about it!

Written by: Coach Natalie Lewis // Image of Coach Kevin: @leahlearnsbalance