Wonder winter workouts

The charm of this beautiful time of the year is enhanced by the early morning dew, and the smell of leaves burning in the evening air just ties everything together. Of course, there's also 'bhapa pitha' and 'chitoi pitha' everywhere and, no, you should not have to put a quota on the number of pithas you can have every day. This is why, having a winter workout planned out before winter kicks in hard is so important, because along with all the natural smells, the numerous savoury ones are known to help break the best diet plans.

Winter is the best time to be outdoors. Put on your running shoes and hit the park closest to you. Your nerves will calm down once your body starts to heat up. You can play around with the speed you decide on and this could be your alternative for the treadmill at the gym.

Another reason to go for this is the added benefit of filling your lungs with the clean morning air- sounds pretty perfect, doesn't it? The only obstacle is making it out of the warm, comfortable embrace of your bed in the morning, so good luck with that!

Then there is the option of outdoor yoga. For this I suggest you wait a little and not get out as early as you would for a run. Let the sun be up, warming up the atmosphere a little, and then set out. Now this doesn't have to necessarily be in the park. It could just as well be on your rooftop or terrace. Yoga calms the mind and prepares you for whatever kind of day you are about to have so don't be too quick to cross it off the list.

Another alternative is taking on a winter sport and what better than badminton? We tend to go big on this game with courts being arranged on every other empty plot in all the neighbourhoods. Engaging in badminton is not only an excellent excuse to spend some quality time with friends but also an amazing work out. Whether you decide to play a singles or a doubles game, you will have to be light on your feet.

Finally, consider cycling. This ensures a full body workout, tightens your torso, and gives you a great posture. Adjusting the speed is entirely up to you and you can take a different route every day. 20-30 minutes of cycling everyday will give you a good cardio session and you can come back home and then do some free hand exercises before wrapping things up.

Working out is not about getting skinny. It's about staying fit. Taking a break from all kinds of exercise because it is winter is going to haunt you because the wedding season has started already and you need to look your best, while being able to eat the amazing kacchi biriyani.