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SPORTS & FITNESS

 Mountain Views NewsSaturday, December 14, 2024


HOLIDAY MOVES

When there are lots of kids (or adults) around during 
the holiday season, keeping them entertained can be 
a challenge. Why not add some fun fitness activities 
to your celebrations? These activities can keep everyone’s 
brains engaged and bodies moving while creating 
lasting memories.

Physical activity during the holidays isn’t a modern 
idea—it’s been part of traditions for centuries! For 
example, in medieval times, wassailing was a popular 
way to stay active. Groups would walk from house to 
house, singing carols and spreading goodwill in exchange 
for food or small gifts. Some carried heavy 
wassail bowls filled with spiced cider, making the activity 
as much about strength as cheer.

In the past, people also played creative and challenging 
games. One traditional Christmas game involved 
bending backward to pick up a stick with your teeth. 
Known as "shoeing the wild mare," it required incredible 
flexibility, balance, and core strength—even the fittest found it tough.

Scandinavian Yule celebrations focused on strength and endurance. During pre-Christian 
winter solstice festivities, Norse traditions included competitions like stone lifting, sled 
pulling, and wrestling to foster community bonds and celebrate resilience during the dark 
months.

By Victorian times, sledding and ice skating had become beloved holiday pastimes in Europe 
and North America. These activities combined festive fun with physical exertion, 
adding a layer of excitement to holiday gatherings.

These historical traditions show how physical activity has always been woven into holiday 
celebrations. While some of these pastimes might be difficult to replicate, the idea of combining 
movement with fun and togetherness is timeless.

Here are some modern activities to keep everyone active and entertained:

1. Reindeer Races: Create a relay course with obstacles like cones, chairs, or 
hoops. Divide into teams and have each participant wear "antlers" (craft or headbands) 
while pretending to pull Santa’s sleigh. 

2. Virtual Santa Dash: Encourage participants to wear Santa hats and complete a 
distance of their choice by walking, running, or cycling. Use a fitness tracker or 
app to monitor progress. You can even organize a virtual leaderboard to add a 
competitive edge. 

3. HIIT Holiday Countdown: Adapt high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to a 
festive theme. Perform descending exercises like "12 squats, 11 lunges, 10 push-
ups," and so on, down to "1-minute plank." Add moves like "Reindeer Jumps" 
or "Santa Sack Swings" to tie in the holiday spirit. Perfect for imitating a more 
structured workout while still having fun.

4. Christmas Tree Pose Contest: Have participants balance in a yoga tree pose for 
as long as they can. For a festive twist, provide small decorations to hold while 
balancing. Encourage mindfulness and stability, a good choice for quieter moments 
during your celebration.

5. Candy Cane Hunt: Hide candy canes around the house or yard. Each time 
someone finds one, they must do an exercise like a squat or a push-up before 
claiming their prize. 

6. Snowball Toss: Use soft white balls or rolled-up socks as "snowballs." Players 
take turns throwing them at targets, such as buckets or hoops, to score points. 
You can add a timer for fast-paced rounds or make it a team competition to keep 
the energy high.

7. Gift Box Workout: Wrap empty boxes in holiday paper and write exercises on 
the bottom of each one. Participants choose a "gift" and perform the exercise 
listed, such as jumping jacks or push-ups. Adjust the difficulty based on your 
group’s fitness levels.

8. Christmas Escape Room Fitness: Set up an escape room with holiday-themed 
clues and physical challenges. For example, do 20 burpees to "find" Santa’s hat or 
hold a plank to reveal a secret code. This is a great way to mix mental and physical 
engagement.

Looking back, some of the most boring moments as a child were holiday visits when adults 
laughed and talked while kids sat around with nothing to do. Let’s make sure today’s kids 
don’t have the same experience. By incorporating these engaging, active games, you’ll ensure 
they’re moving, thinking, and having fun. At the same time, adults can join in or enjoy 
watching the excitement. These activities are not just a way to pass the time and laugh—
they’re opportunities to create moments that everyone will remember.

Years from now, kids might reminisce about how much they loved coming to your house 
for the holidays because of all the creative activities you organized. What better gift could 
there be than creating a tradition of laughter, movement, and connection that stands the 
test of time?


Michele Silence, M.A. is a 37-year certified fitness 

professional who offers semi-private/virtual fitness 
classes. Contact Michele at michele@kid-fit.
com. Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness 
Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness.


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