How can you maintain fitness in the cold, dark, winter months?

The summer isn't short on fitness inspiration - the warmer days and longer evenings are an open invitation to head outside, whether you're a runner, walker, cyclist, or swimmer. Yoga in the garden? Great idea! Stroll the last couple of train stops home? No problem. When it's cold, dark, and probably wet out, however, is the gym appealing enough to keep fitness sustainable? Here are a few of our favourite ways to keep moving this winter.

Find ways to boost accountability

On balance, we all feel better once we've done some exercise, but sometimes peeling ourselves off the sofa, getting up before work, or summoning the energy after a long day is a tough mental block to get over. Having someone or something else to be accountable to, is often the boost we need to make it happen. For example:

• You could buddy up with one (or a few) people to work out together on different days of the week. Join a group - like a running club or an organised event like Park Run.
• If you're feeling flush you could invest in a personal trainer for a period of time to get you in the right rhythm. Apps can be a helpful way to measure progress.
• Tech also provides great inspiration and frameworks for setting goals and achieving them. For example, at SENSORY Wellbeing at Pan Pacific London, their Body Assessment provides an in-depth analysis of heart, lung, muscular and neuromuscular function in real time, so you can set your goals from an accurate understanding of where you are today.

Make fitness a social activity

For lots of us fitness is a solitary activity where we like to be with our own thoughts, but for many part of the benefit is being with other people. If you are interested in playing a sport, or you simply want to work out with other people who have a bit of a competitive edge, why not find a local club and try things like basketball, netball, or Padel tennis?

Swap after-work drinks for wellness experiences

Swap out after work drinks for a social catch up with a little sporting adventure thrown in. Maybe it's a run together, a walk, or something more adventurous like rock climbing, which is a great way to build strength, agility, focus, and have fun at the same time.

Personally, we like to combine that approach with some evening spa time as well, on a Twilight Spa evening, where you can use the gym, pool, and maybe have a treatment as well to make the most of your evening and turn it into a wellbeing experience.

Built fitness into your everyday routine

The value of movement throughout the day can often go under appreciated. For lots of people, busy lives mean that it's not just about motivation but finding the time to dedicate to exercise that's a challenge.

If that's the case, don't forget to pat yourself on the back for the everyday routines that get you moving as well, and look for ways to optimise them. For example:

• You might be able to get off the train to work one stop earlier and walk part of the way. Walk up escalators instead of standing on them.
• Don't forget about those weekend tasks like gardening! Instead of making it a 'whenever' job, why not commit to 30 minutes on regular occasions? You will be amazed at what you achieve both outside and for yourself.

You can still get outside...

What's that obnoxious phrase? There's no such thing as bad weather, just unsuitable clothing? Well, there's some truth in it. There are lots of benefits to getting out (safely) in the open air if you have the opportunity, even if the weather is less than inviting. A morning run in the fresh air, a good walk with the dog, or, if you have the right kit, you might even brave a spot of wild swimming!

If the chilly sea or a Baltic lido aren't quite your thing, then heated outdoor spa pools are amongst our favourite facilities in the winter months. There's nothing quite like a morning swim into the sunrise while the steam rises off the water. If you want to really get back to nature, there are also some spectacular natural swim ponds to enjoy as well!

Add warmth into your wellbeing experiences

One of the things that often makes us feel quite low in the winter months is that it just stays so damp and cold for so long, so it's amazing what a little heat can do for mind, body, and soul.

With that in mind, when you have the time, add a little heat into your routine, whether it's 10 minutes in the sauna and steam room at your regular gym, or making time to use a complete thermal suite in a spa, with hydrotherapy pools and a succession of heat-based experiences.

Sauna culture is very much on the rise in popularity as well - Wild Spa Wow's magical forest sauna retreat is a favourite, as is the Russian-inspired Banya No.1 - Hoxton. There's particular positivity about the contrasting experiences of hot and cold temperatures, going from heated spaces to cold plunges, for example, in true Scandinavian style.

You can even combine the experiences with being outside, thanks to plenty of spa destinations with outdoor saunas!