Activities that’ll get you through winter

You’re almost there! It might feel like winter is dragging on forever, but we only have a few more weeks until we’re out the other side. Even though the days are getting longer and the sun is shining brighter, this time of year can be the most difficult of all. It feels like winter will never end and it’s just as cold, dark and miserable now as it was in November. But Urban Sports Club is here to get you out of that winter rut and help you feel amazing from the inside out. Because no matter how drizzly it is outside, sport will always have a positive impact on your day! So here are some activities that will make you feel amazing, whatever the weather.

1. Play Padel

Padel is Spain’s second most popular sport (next to football) and over the last two years it has slowly taken off across Europe. After you play once, you’ll see why. It’s a racket sport that requires four players and the bats are really huge, which means the ball makes a satisfying THWACK whenever you hit it. The rules are easy to pick up too, but we think the reason Padel is so popular is the social aspect. Booking a court with four pals is a great way to motivate yourself to get out of the house, and you’ll forget all about your winter blues after you’ve worked up a sweat with some friends. 

Here’s what you can expect from a Padel session.

2. Go on a hike

There’s no better way to make the most of the short days than by getting outside and going on a hike in some of Germany’s natural landscapes. This might not seem like your typical Urban Sports Club activity, but we actually have several partners that offer guided hikes across Germany. It’s a great way to spend a sunny winter Sunday and a fantastic way to meet people, not to mention a much-needed fix of fresh air. Then, when you get back home once the sun has gone down, you’ll feel like you’ve totally earned a Netflix binge.

3. Jump into spring

A visit to the trampoline park is guaranteed to boost your mood this winter. Last year in January, some members of the Urban Sports Club team paid a visit to Sprungraum in the south of Berlin for a backflip session. None of us had ever backflipped before and it was very nerve-racking. But after an hour of training with the fantastic Arthur, we were all able to do it. We felt super proud, and the adrenaline and endorphins kept us feeling good all week. But don’t worry, you don’t need to do a backflip to feel the benefits—just jumping up and down for an hour is enough to get your blood flowing and serotonin pumping. So pay a visit to your local park for a little mood boost this winter.  

Read all about our trampoline back-flip session

4. Aim high 

Have you ever tried archery? It might not seem like much of a mood-booster, but just wait until you’ve tried it. We had an archery session in Hamburg and discovered that stretching that bow back and hearing the arrow hit the target with an almighty THWUNK is an instant mood-booster. “We all have a hunting instinct,” says Peter Dubberstein, the founder of Mid Pfeil und Bogen in Hamburg. “Some people shoot a bow and arrow and something just clicks into place: they’re hooked.”

So to boost your mood this winter, take a trip to your nearest archery center and get shooting!

Read all about our archery session in this blog article. 

5. Get Cryogenically frozen 

Cryotherapy was discovered in Japan in the early ‘70s as an alternative to conventional medicine. It’s believed that a blast of cold air boosts your immune system and fights infection, and we know from first-hand experience that it’s good for your mood, too. With your Urban Sports Club membership, you can check in to dozens of Cryotherapy points across Germany and get blasted with cold air at -157 celsius for 2–3 minutes. Our therapist, Anna, who manages Cryopoint in Hamburg says: “The body reacts at -90°C. this is when the brain kicks into survival mode and all the hormones are released. It’s good for our bodies to go into survival mode!”

And the best part is that you’ll walk back into the wintery weather and it’ll feel 100 degrees warmer! 

Read about our Cryotherapy session here.

6. Try something new!

Trying a new activity is one of the key benefits of your Urban Sports Club membership. It’s always intimidating to get out there and try a new class, but that feeling of pride you get when you step out your comfort zone will stay with you all week. So get your app out and push your limits!

We hope these top tips will get you through the last months of winter and sailing through into spring. If you’re not a member yet, sign up to Urban Sports Club today and find out just how good you can feel!