Exercises to Beat the Winter Blues

Don't let winter keep you from keeping up with exercise. There are a number of easy exercises you can do indoors to keep your muscles loose and toned and your heart healthy. These are simple, easy, and great exercises for maintaining muscle and joint health. They take only a few minutes, but contribute greatly to strength, balance, and even your cardiac health.

Start with a few repetitions of each exercise and build up gradually. Remember, if you have health problems, check with a health professional before starting a fitness program.


Flexibility
Circle your arms slowly to stretch the upper body.
Sit and extend your knee straight out. Pump your ankle up and down to stretch the leg
     muscles.


Strength
From a standing position, go up on your toes
     then down again.
Do sit-to-stand exercises. Simply sit down then
     stand up.
Stand at the kitchen counter and do small knee
     bends.
March on the spot.
Do side leg raises while standing at the kitchen
     counter.

Balance
Balance on one leg, making sure you're near
     something to grab if necessary.
Tap-step by moving your right foot forward, to
     the side, behind you, and then back to the
     starting position. Do the same with your left
     foot.

Endurance
Don't stop walking! Hallways and indoor
     shopping malls are excellent places for
     walking.