The festive season brings joy, family time, and delicious treats that make the scale numbers creep up unnoticed. As a fitness professional, keeping your clients motivated to stay active during this calorie-laden time can be challenging. Even if you’ve mastered the CSCS practice test, the holidays present new obstacles for clients at any stage!
Here’s where Christmas cheer meets fitness gear! Infuse the holiday spirit into workout routines with these fun, holiday-themed exercises that your clients will love.
Jingle Bell Jog
Who says jogs need to be mundane? Amp up the cardio session by turning it into a Jingle Bell Jog. Encourage clients to attach small bells to their shoelaces, which will jingle merrily as they run. It’s a great way to spread Christmas cheer in the neighborhood or on the treadmill.
The sound of jingle bells not only serves as a festive motivator but also helps keep the pace lively. Challenge them to maintain a rhythm with their strides that keeps the bells chiming in unison, effectively turning their workout into a merry melody. This auditory feedback adds a fun twist and helps improve cadence, making the jog more enjoyable and effective.
Santa’s Sleigh Push
Turn functional training into a ho-ho-whole lot of fun with the Santa’s Sleigh Push. Mimicking Santa’s effort to push his sleigh, this exercise can be done with a weighted sled or even a weighted barbell on a slider surface.
Clients will engage their core, legs, and arms as they push the "sleigh" across the floor. To add to the holiday theme, play some festive music in the background and encourage your clients to imagine they’re dashing through the snow. The Santa’s Sleigh Push is not only enjoyable but also an excellent workout for building strength and power.
Snow Angel Abs
Snow angels are synonymous with winter fun, and they can be brought into the gym for a festive abdominal workout. Have your clients lie on their backs on a mat and perform a snow angel motion with their arms and legs, keeping them off the ground.
This exercise will target the abs, obliques, shoulders, and adductors, providing a full-body challenge that feels more like play than work. Snow Angel Abs is a perfect way to turn fond childhood memories into a practical exercise that clients of all fitness levels will enjoy.
Chimney Climber Challenge
Inspired by the image of Santa Claus climbing down the chimney, the Chimney Climber Challenge is a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise that gets the heart racing. Clients can perform this movement by doing mountain climbers with a twist: set a timer for a minute and see how many “climbs” they can do.
To inject some extra Christmas spirit, they can shout a festive phrase with each set completed. This exercise not only builds cardiovascular endurance but also strengthens the core, legs, and arms. It’s a fun, fast-paced workout that will have your clients laughing and sweating.
Festive Dance Party
Finally, nothing screams Christmas like a good old-fashioned dance party. Encourage your clients to let loose with a dance workout set to a playlist of Christmas classics. From "Jingle Bell Rock" to "All I Want for Christmas Is You," there’s no shortage of festive tunes to get the body moving. Dancing is an excellent cardiovascular workout that also improves coordination and agility.
Plus, it’s a joyful way to exercise that feels less like a structured routine and more like a celebration. A Festive Dance Party can be a great end-of-session workout or even a standalone class, ensuring clients leave the gym with high spirits and a high-calorie burn.
Reindeer Run Relay
Add a competitive edge to the holiday workout with the Reindeer Run Relay. This can be set up if you can access a track or a suitable outdoor space. Clients can be divided into teams, and just like Santa’s reindeer, they take turns pulling a "sleigh" — which could be a partner on a sled or a weighted piece of equipment — around a set course.
Each team member takes a turn as the lead reindeer, encouraging teamwork and camaraderie. This relay focuses on sprinting intervals that provide an intense cardio workout, targeting muscular endurance and explosive strength.
Wrapping Up Fitness With Holiday Cheer
As the holiday season wraps up, so can a new fitness regime that has brought joy and cheer to your clients' exercise routines. These holiday-themed exercises provide an innovative approach to staying fit during a time known for indulgence.
Embrace the spirit of the season by continuing to incorporate playfulness and community into workouts, ensuring that the merriment of Christmas extends beyond the gym.
