Fitness tips to prepare for your snowshoeing adventure
“Will I be able to enjoy snowshoeing in the Alps if I become in shape?” When people inquire about our snowshoeing vacations, this is the most typical question they have. For a first-time snowshoer, the winter temperatures, altitude, and intensity of snowshoeing exercise are all-new elements, and even experienced walkers often doubt their capacity to cope. This fear, particularly among the over 50s, plays a large role in people’s decisions, and many individuals miss out on what could have been a beautiful snowshoeing experience. The truth is that if you’re interested in snowshoeing in the first place, you’re probably already relatively healthy and enjoy being outside and in nature, making you an ideal candidate for the sport! Snowshoeing outfits are also very important. So you have to choose the right snowshoes because high-quality mountain snowshoes (see also snowshoes Canada sale) depend so much.
Prepare ahead of time.
First and foremost, before making any drastic changes to your routine, you should always visit a doctor. Don’t put things off till the last minute. As we get older, our bodies take longer to respond, so ease into it slowly and gradually integrate any lifestyle modifications.
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A decent rule of thumb is to exercise frequently rather than infrequently and to gradually increase the amount of time spent exercising. This way, you’re unlikely to notice, but your body will!
Give your lungs and heart a good workout.
Because snowshoeing is similar to mountain walking, there will be some uphill stretches that will put your aerobic fitness and stamina to the test. Deep snow may be there, requiring you to lift your knees with each step. If there is a lot of deep snow, it is best to go with a guide who can make tracks for you!
Any opportunity to train yourself by walking is excellent, but you may also ‘cheat’ and achieve results without having to walk for hours upon hours!
Current research is fine-tuning this with recommendations for intensity and resistance, with short bursts of more intense activity proving to have far longer-lasting advantages.
If you currently walk or go to the gym, try incorporating some cardio challenges into your routine, such as walking as quickly as you can up a hill or boosting the pace on the running machine to a sprint for 15 seconds. So if you do this on a regular basis, you will see a significant gain in cardiac stamina and fitness without having to add any additional time to your schedule.
In case you can’t get to the gym or go for a walk as often as you’d like, try running up and down the stairs or challenging yourself to mop the kitchen or clean the bathroom in the shortest amount of time possible.
Increase the strength of your legs.
After the age of 50, men’s testosterone levels begin to decline, while most women are in some stage of menopause. These hormonal changes alter the rate at which muscle grows, and it takes longer to gain muscle strength in general, therefore effort and patience are essential.
On a snowshoeing journey, the muscles in your legs will be put to the most use, therefore focus on leg strengthening activities. Squats, lunges, and calf raises are simple exercises that can be done at home or at the gym, but if you’re like me and lack the discipline to do them on your own, join a class. Many gyms offer a ski fit session before winter that focuses on the same muscles, and aquagym is particularly helpful for resistance training while being soft on the joints.
Hills on your walks, as well as exaggerating your walking movements by elevating your knees or kicking your bottom, are all fantastic ways to build your leg muscles.
Consider the concept of equilibrium.
Put yourself to the test and see if you can stand for a minute on one foot. You’re not alone if you’re over fifty and can’t! According to a recent study, loss of balance is not simply a concern for the elderly; it begins to decline in midlife.
Walking or snowshoeing with the best quality snowshoes in the mountains requires a lot of balance. You don’t want to fall in a rough, steep alpine setting when the nearest hospital is a helicopter trip away. While balance is difficult to achieve, it is also simple to enhance.