It’s hard to stay motivated for winter workouts. As the weather gets colder and it gets darker earlier, your natural urge is to play a rousing game of couch potato in the evenings. Of course there’s the option of working out in the morning . . . when it’s even darker and colder.
Whatever time of day you choose to work out during the winter months, it’s important to reward yourself with little treats along the way to help you stay interested in exercising. I like to use herbal oils. Besides being great moisturizers, they have some added benefits that keep me motivated.
Winter Workouts
With cold weather comes dry skin. Having that tight dry feeling is just an excuse not to exercise so using oil as a moisturizer is a great option. Infusing the oil with herbs is an even better idea.
Herbs are great natural remedies for the aches, pains, and soreness that come with winter workouts. Here are a few worth considering—
Arnica is commonly used to treat wounds, bruises, and various types of inflammation. Applying arnica topically to sore muscles is very soothing.
Sea Buckthorn has a long use in herbal medicine. It’s rich in essential fatty acids as well as vitamin C, vitamin E and anthocyanins. Nowadays used for arthritis, diabetes, inflammation and eczema remedies among other things.
St. John’s Wort is thought of as a depression remedy, but it’s also a treatment for burns, bruises, and wounds.
Calendula is a flower commonly known as marigold. It contains anti-inflammatory compounds as well as lutein and beta carotene. It’s used to treat sunburn, wounds, and skin infections.
Arnica Herbal OilsMore InfoInjur-Heal Herbal OilsMore InfoSea Buckthorn OilMore Info
Best Oil for Winter
Here’s where the treat comes in. As a reward for working out, I’ll heat the oil while I’m in the shower. Just fill up the bathroom sink with hot water and throw the bottle in. By the time you come out the shower it’s nice and warm. Sort of like a whole body hot oil treatment. The oil will moisturize your dry skin and the herbs will treat your aches and pains at the same time.
My personal favorite is arnica. It has a lovely herbal smell and it’s better than any over-the-counter rub for muscle aches. I buy mine at Mountain Rose Herbs because I know the formula is organic and free of toxins. When I feel like giving up on my winter workouts, this is what I focus on.
Look at the calendar – winter is almost here! Don’t wait too long to put these great healing oils to work for you!
