It’s cold and snowy and the skies are gray. That means it’s OK to shelve your fitness plans until the spring.

Kidding!

Don’t listen to Mother Nature – winter is full of opportunities to move, groove and continue with goals to stay active and mobile.

Aleah Neuenschwander, ATC, CSCS, an athletic trainer with Aultman Orrville Sports & Wellness, shared these tips about how to keep moving during the winter months:

• Check out your local fitness centers and take advantage of special sales for the new year. Many offer deals to appeal to those who have new year resolutions to get fit. Check out what's happening in your area so you can hit the gym during the colder months for a great price.
  
  
• Grab a couple of friends or co-workers to try an exercise class together. Try one at work, if offered, or attend one at your local fitness center. Group accountability can help you stick to your exercise plan!
  
  
• Check with your local school district/community center to see if they provide times when the public may use the building for indoor walking. You can also use indoor shopping centers to keep your walking routine going.
  
  
• Dust off fitness equipment that has been sitting unused around your house and put it to good use. Or pick up a variety pack of resistance bands at your local sporting goods store and design a home routine. Try to spend 20 minutes two to three times per week on strength exercises.
  
  
• Check online sources/social media for exercise routines and videos that meet your ability level and fit your schedule. There are many types available at no cost – cardiovascular, strength, yoga and mobility training, to name just a few. The routines also utilize a variety of modalities from no equipment to using weights, bands, cardio equipment and even simple household items.
  
  
• With evenings being long and dark, our screen time usually goes up. Try performing some body-weight exercises or stretches during commercial breaks.
  
  
• Whatever activities you choose, try to keep to the guidelines set by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM): 150 minutes of moderate cardiovascular exercise per week or 20 minutes of vigorous cardiovascular exercise three times per week and two days of strength training.