Winter is almost here, and the cold weather is finally upon us! In this cold weather, many of us who enjoy being outside are forced inside but the harsh weather, or those who want to get a good workout end up frozen before succumbing to treadmills, indoor bikes and other indoor exercise equipment.
Those who simply enjoy being outside in the pool, lake, river and other bodies of water are also out of an activity. I love being in the water and continually adding different water-specific certifications to my resume. I am in the water year around. However, not everyone knows the places, things and activities that you can participate in during winter that combat the cold and fuel your active side.
In central Appalachia, we have snow, sleet, ice and freezing temperatures during the winter months, which makes things like exercise difficult to incorporate, or just being outside in general. However, I know several options to help you get your taste of outdoor activities and exercise until you can get back outside.
For the water, ETSU and Johnson City have four pools that you can use for little price or no price at all. ETSU’s CPA is free to all students and has a rotating schedule of availability. Freedom Hall’s Legion Street is available intermittently and has a standard lap pool opened up for swim occasionally. The Memorial Center is also another option for those wanting more consistent times. They are open more regularly to the public and have two warm water pools and larger pool as well.
Finally, for those also wanting to work on their exercise and to be in the water, The Wellness Center in Johnson City has a lap pool, warm pool, jacuzzi and during the summer months, an outdoor lap pool. Upstairs, they have a cycle room, large equipment room with all the equipment you can imagine and basketball courts. They also feature massages by appointment.
I hope some of these options help you find a place to get some fun outdoor water activities indoors while the winter lasts.
