Ski Season Tips for Getting Muscles Ready for Action
You’ve booked your trip and are lovingly gazing at all your ski gear in anticipation. But before you start checking the days off your calendar until it’s time for skiing, you should be getting your muscles ready for that action. Skiing engages different muscles than you use in your day-to-day interactions. Even for the most fit among us, it’s important to start working those ski muscles now or you’ll be too sore to enjoy that hot cocoa after a day on the slopes.
So, what exercises should you do to prime yourself for skiing?
– Aerobic exercises
Any aerobic activity will help get your cardiovascular system ready and give you the endurance you need. Jogging, cycling, or something as simple as jumping rope are all great ways to get that activity, though you can always take an aerobics class to shake things up.
– Lunges
By doing lunges, you gain greater strength and balance in the legs. These simple exercises also serve to prevent injury and create greater range of motion.
– Crunches
A strong and solid core will see you through the slopes. It’s not about having rock hard abs but rather, training those muscles in the core which includes your lower back as well as the abs to handle all your movements that help you steer and glide as you ski.
– Planks
Planks are something else you can do to engage the core muscles, making it another exercise to add. See how long you can hold it by challenging yourself each day to make it even longer.
– Squats
Pretend like you’re sitting in a chair and then pause right before you’d set your buttocks down. That’s how to do a good squat. If you’re just starting out, there’s no shame in using a chair, wall, or bar to help steady yourself. The muscles in your legs and buttocks need to be ready to handle all that movement on the slopes so get to it!
– Burpees
Personal trainers love to assign burpees because they cover all the muscles and are an excellent way to get ready for ski season. You start in the standing position and drop into a pushup, then you push from the ground into a jump up into the air. Don’t be discouraged if you can barely get through one of them. Start now and by the time you go on your ski trip, you’ll be a pro!
– Side jumps
Envision a line on the floor or put down a rope or ribbon to mark the place. Then jump over it sideways back and forth. This is similar to the movement you make on the slopes so it gets you in gear for a great season of skiing.
Need more help getting ready to go skiing? No matter your level on the slopes, let In Your Home Therapy come to you with personal training services to prepare you for your snowy sports adventures!
