Embracing Spring and Summer After a Long Winter Indoors

As we fully embrace spring and head into summer, we are excited to participate in activities like biking, hiking, running, swimming, kayaking, golfing, and much more.

There’s nothing quite like feeling the sun on your face after being cooped up indoors for five months during winter. I absolutely love it! I’ve already taken to the streets for running and used the bike trailer to take Madison on bike rides, which was amazing! However, I’ve noticed something: many people have shared that even though they’ve been strength training and staying active indoors, they still experience some discomfort, like their knees talking to them or their shoulders hurting after throwing a baseball for the first time with their kids. It can be frustrating!

Unfortunately, we are not superhuman, and we're not professional athletes who have been training for years in these sports. After a long winter off, I urge you to ease back into your activities, regardless of what you did during the colder months.

Our bodies, whether in our 30s or 70s, are designed to move, and it's important to do so! However, we must also prepare properly for these movements.

At Breakthrough Fitness, we provide generalized full-body strength training so you can join almost any activity and do it confidently. We want you to be able to try new activities, but it's also important to remember that just because you can doesn't mean you should. What do I mean? Can you run a half marathon if you've been running 8 miles a week all winter? 

Probably. Should you? No. 

Your body would feel it for days, if not weeks or months after, because of the lack of preparation. While this might be an extreme example, you can apply any activity to this example.

If you want to pick up golf clubs after spending so much time indoors, I’m not saying you shouldn't! Just make sure to warm up before you start swinging. Ease into your practice by visiting the driving range and hitting only 25-50 balls at first. Gradually work your way up before attempting to play 18 holes in one afternoon. And don’t forget to stretch afterward and maintain your strength training routine! It’s also a good idea to mention to your trainer that you’re taking up summer activities, so we can incorporate specific exercises into your training that align with your chosen sport.

As you move into spring and summer, feel empowered to engage in the activities you love, but let’s do so strategically! Continue to feel strong with every bike ride or round of golf. My philosophy is to always start in a way that leaves you feeling like you could have done a bit more but stopped while you were ahead. This way, you can go again tomorrow without needing extra recovery time.

If you'd like more specific recommendations, let us know! We'd love to help you ramp up your summer activities this year!

P.S. Pass this along to a friend who needs this reminder, too!