As the summer draws to a close it’s the perfect time to embrace this new season and prioritize our health and well-being.
Fall presents unique ways to get fit while enjoying the crisp air and vibrant landscapes.
Throw those windows open, air out the house, and let’s explore some of the exciting ways to nourish our bodies, stay active, and make the most of this wonderful time of year.
Engage in Outdoor Activities:
Cooler temperatures and colorful scenery make fall an ideal time to get outside and engage in various outdoor activities.
Consider the following as potential activities to add to your current routine.
- Taking brisk walks in your neighborhood
- Hiking the picturesque mountains
- Biking through local parks or nature trails.
These activities will not only keep you active but provide the added bonus of immersing you in nature’s beauty. Which may also lead to a heightened sense of peace and tranquility.
In short, getting out of the house and into nature for your exercise is great for overall well-being.
Adopting these practices will serve you well long after the season is over.
Embrace Seasonal Sports:
Fall also brings us the opportunity to participate in seasonal sports. Examples include, basketball, tennis, pickleball, or golf.
Engaging in these sports improves your cardiovascular health, enhances your coordination, and balance. Sports also expand your range of motion and flexibility.
These activities provide the benefit of multiple participants. That means you are able to enjoy the company of friends or fellow enthusiasts at the same time as exercising.
This is good news for your accountability. It means you will be less likely to cancel. Furthermore, group activities nurture connection and is good for the soul.
Explore Group Exercise Classes:
Autumn is also a great time to explore various group exercise classes and start preparing for when you have to move your workouts indoors.
Classes such as Yoga, Pilates, Zumba, or Weight Training can be a fun and effective way to stay fit while enjoying the camaraderie of like-minded individuals.
As with seasonal sports, these classes not only help improve strength, flexibility, and overall fitness but also provide the opportunity to socialize and make new friends.
Incorporate Strength Training:
Maintaining muscle strength becomes crucial as we get older. The less we move, the weaker we become. “Use it or lose it” is a common phrase we hear.
For example, if you sit for 8 hours a day at work and you do not have some type of weight training routine established, you are likely losing muscle.
If this is the case, I highly recommend incorporating strength training into your weekly routine. It doesn’t have to be long sessions. Start with one 15-30 min session a week and go from there.
You may consider joining a gym, working with a personal trainer who can guide you through a personalized program (me), or setting yourself up at home.
Regular strength training can increase your metabolism, improve bone density, and enhance overall strength and stability.
Before starting a new fitness routine, you should always consult your physician to determine what is best for your current health circumstances. Then make a plan and execute it.
Nutrition and Seasonal Eating:
Seasonal produce is abundant in the fall. By incorporating delicious fall fruits and vegetables into your nutrition plan you will be adding flavor, fiber, and many essential vitamins and minerals into your meals.
Apples, pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes, and dark leafy greens are packed with antioxidants as well as essential nutrients. I love to experiment with new recipes this time of year and utilizing seasonal ingredients makes it easy to nourish our bodies from within.
Check out the recipe for my favorite pumpkin smoothie below.
Engage in Mindful Practices:
Taking care of your mental and emotional well-being is equally important as being physically fit.
Each new season provides an opportunity to reflect on our lives.
It’s a time to determine what is working for us and what no longer serves us.
If you find you are lacking in some areas, I invite you to explore mindful practices such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, and/or journaling.
These practices can promote clarity, reduce stress, increase peacefulness within and enhance overall well-being.
Therefore, as the leaves begin their brilliant transformation this fall, I encourage you to seize the moment for a transformation of your own.
Break out of your comfort zone and let the beauty of the season inspire you.
Remember, health and wellness are a lifelong journey and there is no better time to start than now. Prioritize your health and embrace a fall full of fitness and fun!
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Wishing you much love, health, and happiness,
Christine
