Christmas is that time of year when it's officially okay to slow down, spend time with friends and family, and maybe treat yourself to some great food and drink, but it doesn't have to be a complete disaster for your fitness. If you're feeling snowed in or just like to sleep in, you might not want to venture out to the gym, but you can still stay festive and fit with this super easy HIIT Christmas workout from fitness instructor Natalie Wilson.
"I post workouts for every fitness level so you can do them from home or at the gym," says Wilson, who is 33 and lives in Utah. “I'm happy to share that exercise doesn't have to be complicated or intimidating. My goal is to show others that fitness should be seen as a blessing and not a chore. I want others to understand that the benefits of physical and mental exercise are nearly endless!” Wilson's positivity and great workout content is contagious, and with around 125,000 followers on her Instagram account joining the good spirits, who can resist her approach argue? "It's important to choose workouts that you enjoy!" says Wilson. “I'm happy to share that you don't have to be unhappy during your workout. Experiment with different workouts to find what you love, like this fun Christmas obstacle course.”
Travis Richardson
The beauty of this HIIT Christmas workout is that minimal equipment is required. If you don't have a kettlebell, grab Santa's gift bag or use a packet of sugar. "The holiday season can be stressful, and exercise can help you manage that stress," says Wilson, whose ideal Christmas is spending time at home with her husband and three children. "I prioritize my workouts over the holidays, even if my workout is a simple walk on the treadmill or a quick 20-minute HIIT workout at home. Take the time to move your body during the holidays and your stress levels will drop, making you feel better both physically and mentally. Living a balanced life is very important and something I am strongly committed to. It's okay to indulge a little and be present at Christmas with your family and loved ones. After Christmas you can just jump back on the track, but you can still move around a bit during the break.”
Members of Wilson's fitness classes know that she's seriously qualified, with a bachelor's degree in exercise science and an ACE certification in group fitness, but her workouts are exciting and energetic. "I'm posting these workouts because I want people to see that the fitness results and overall benefits of exercising are possible at home. You don't need a gym membership to work out. Even if space or equipment at home is limited, it's still possible to stay active and fit in a fun way.” What's not to like about enjoying Christmas without completely jumping off your fitness routine? So what would Natalie
Wilson wants Santa to deliver this year? "It's interesting as you get older, and especially when you become a parent, the Christmas gift you want the most is to see the excitement and joy on children's faces as they open their presents on Christmas Day," shares she with. "That's all for me! But if I were to ask Santa for anything, I would never say no to new workout clothes or shoes! You can never have too many shoes, can you?”
Natalie Wilson's HIIT Christmas workout
Instructions: Repeat 3, 4 or as many times as you can. Rest 20 seconds between each exercise.
Modifications: HIIT circuits like this are great for all fitness levels. Easily adjust workout times, rest times, and number of circuits to suit your needs!
Training tip: Use an interval training timer app on your phone to count you down.
- Kettlebell (or Jingle Bell) Swings: 45 seconds
- (Ice) Skaters: 45 seconds
- Dumbbell (or Santa's Bag) Squat Press: 45 seconds
- Side-to-side (reindeer) hops: 45 seconds
- (Sleigh Ride) Sit-Throughs: 45 seconds
- Jumping (Star) Jacks: 45 seconds
Follow Natalie Wilson on Instagram for more workouts.
