There are plenty of ways you can get active in a way that suits you, whether that’s outdoors or indoors. Increasing your activity levels has a whole host of benefits both physically and mentally.

It may be that you have some experience being active previously, or maybe you don’t, and that’s okay! Getting some movement into your day is a great thing to do, no matter how much you have tried before. We hope that you can find something here to inspire you.

Walking

Walking is one of the most accessible forms of exercise; most people can add a little bit more walking into their day, and no matter how much you do, it all helps! As Spring approaches, walking is brilliant way to enjoy your local scenery and help clear your mind. Check out our tips on getting into walking. The NHS also has some useful advice.

Running

Running is another great way to keep active; it’s free and you can do it almost anywhere. However, it can be tricky to get started. Or, the idea of starting may be a bit daunting. We’ve put together some tips on getting started with running. Couch to 5K is a running plan for beginners that will help you gradually work up towards running 5km.

Cycling

Cycling is another brilliant way to get moving. Whether you want to enjoy peaceful rides locally, or you want to aim to take part in a a cycling event, or join a club, there is a way for everyone to enjoy it. Here are some of our tips for getting started.

Image by Sport England.

Swimming

Swimming is a brilliant way to keep active as it gives you an all-round workout, working almost every part of your body.  Whether you want to go for a swim every now and then or you want to start regularly going, everyone can find their own way to enjoy swimming. It is also a great way to relax. Check out our tops tips on getting started.

Online exercises for beginners

There may be days when you don’t have enough time to exercise out of the house; that’s where home workouts can be a great option. Check out our top picks of free virtual classes to help get you started.

Top Fitness Apps

Many of us find the new year the perfect time to set personal goals, or have an interest in trying something new. Becoming more active is a brilliant goal for the new year, or in fact, any time of the year. Here are our top selection of fitness apps.

Getting the family involved

If you have children in your family, we have put together some tips for keeping kids active outdoors in the winter. Embracing the season has incredible positive impacts on both the physical and mental health of adults and children alike.

Disney’s 10 Minute Shake Up games are also a fun and easy way to help them stay active. The boredom-busting activities featuring their favourite Disney characters will help them reach the 60 active minutes they need each day.

We hope we’ve helped you find a new activity to try, or maybe give something a go again that you used to enjoy in the past. However you chose to get active, it’s important to remember to take it at your own pace. The NHS has put together some physical activity guidelines for adults aged 19 to 64, and physical activity guidelines for children and young people. Their website also provides other exercise guidelines including physical activity guidelines for children under 5 years, fitness advice for wheelchair users, and guidance on ‘Why we should sit less’.

The post Getting active as the seasons change appeared first on Active My Way.

Cycling is a brilliant way to keep active. Whether you want to enjoy peaceful rides locally or you want to aim to take part in a a cycling event, there is a way for everyone to enjoy it.

Regular cycling is great for keeping healthy physically as well as mentally; it is an easy way to ‘clear your head’ and explore locally scenery.

Check out below our tips for getting started with cycling. Remember, there is no ‘wrong’ or ‘right’ way – it is just about finding what works for you!

Before you start

Before you get out and about cycling, it’s important to make sure you have everything you need. If you don’t already have a bicycle, try going instore if you are unsure about which type you would like. The store assistants will be able to help you find what works well for you, and you can test out the seat in person.

Your cycling accessories are just as essential as the bike itself with the top two items being a helmet and bike lights. A water bottle is also an important item, and you may also like to use gloves, a fitness tracker and so on.

Getting started

It’s important to make sure that you are being safe for yourself and others whilst out cycling. THINK have collated useful safety advice for cyclists.

You may find a cycling app can help you get motivated, so why not give one a try to help get you started. Strava is a brilliant app that lets you track your riding, join challenges, share photos, and follow others.

Cycling by yourself is a great way to have some time to yourself, so it is always worth giving that a good try first. However, if you have tried it and have struggled to cycle out by yourself, Cycling UK have put together some tips for encouraging your family and friends to start cycling. This can also be a useful way to get yourself out and used to cycling, and then you can gradually start going out by yourself.

You can also check out Cycling UK’s group finder to find your local groups.

Progress slowly

Your first few rides might be tough as your body is adjusting to the new activity. It’s important to make sure your body has time to recover between rides and you aren’t pushing yourself too hard. But don’t be put off by this; take it gradually and you will be able to safely get more and more used to it.

Pedal at a steady rhythm so you don’t strain or injure yourself. This is the most efficient way to cycle as it will help to improve your endurance and all-round health; it’s usually the most enjoyable way too as it is consistent.

Try making cycling a habit; you can do this by putting reminders in your phone calendar. You could try starting a few times a month and then gradually increasing that to once a week, and so on. Remember to go at the pace which suits you.

Check out these useful guides by Cycling UK for further advice on getting into cycling.

Explore new places to keep it interesting

Cycling is a great way to explore new places locally, perhaps taking routes you wouldn’t usually take. To keep yourself from losing interest in cycling, why not try planning a route in a new area.

Whilst exploring new places, it’s important to make sure that you are being cautious and have a route planned in order to make sure you do not come into any danger.

Staffordshire County Council have created a useful cycling journey planner. They also have a map of footpaths and bridleways you can view.

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