Springtime Fitness: Ways to Stay Active in the Pacific Northwest

Ahhh, spring. That time of year when the sun starts to shine, the flowers begin to bloom, and the rain just won’t stop. Here in the Pacific Northwest, rainy days are a fact of life. That doesn’t mean you have to give up on your fitness routine! With a bit of creativity and preparation, you can stay active and healthy even when the weather outside is less than ideal.

Bring your workout indoors.

There are plenty of exercises you can do inside your home. You can do yoga or Pilates in your living room, or use an exercise bike or treadmill. You can also try an online workout class or streaming video to get your heart rate up. There are some great (and free) workouts and tutorials on YouTube, and many don’t even require equipment! We also have a great lineup of gyms and wellness centers around our community that offer a plethora of machines and even group fitness classes to fit everyone’s needs. 

pilates spring work out

Get creative with outdoor workouts.

If you’re determined to get your workout outside, you can still find a way to make it work. Go for a run-in a nearby park, on a track, or walking in the rain. You can also find a covered area like a gazebo or porch where you can do some exercises.   

Go for a swim.

If you have access to a pool, swimming is a great way to stay active and beat the rain. Swimming laps or doing water aerobics can be fantastic ways to work your body. Centralia has the Centralia Community Pool within a short distance of our clinic & the Olympia area has many community pool options available to use.  While swimming is a fantastic full-body workout, we need to ensure safety around bodies of water, especially around our area. If you’d like to try swimming as a workout, stick to designated swimming pools until lakes and rivers in our area get warmer, typically around the summertime. 

woman swimming indoors

Go hiking!

The word “hiking” doesn’t have to mean backpacking and camping and climbing up steep rocks. There are a lot of hikes in our area that are shorter, have minimal (or no) incline, and are still fun to do in rainy weather. All you need is a pair of boots, a hat, and a rain jacket! If a light hike sounds like a good idea, make sure to do some research to make sure the hike is appropriate for your skill level. Make sure to pack a day pack with the Ten Essentials to ensure you’re prepared if something goes wrong, and it’s always recommended to hike with a buddy. 

Always make sure to plan ahead. Check the forecast ahead of time and plan your workouts depending on what you think the weather will be like. Have a few activities in mind that you can do in case the weather doesn’t cooperate. Finally, don’t forget to have fun. Rainy days can be a great opportunity to try something new or mix up your routine. So, don’t let the weather stop you from staying active and healthy this spring!