Too hot to exercise outside? Tired of the treadmill? Traveling and don’t have access to a gym or a safe place to walk or jog? Rainy? Snowy? Too cold? Too hot? We can always come up with an excuse to not exercise and can easily become bored if we don’t mix up our routine.
A favorite way to get some mileage in regardless of the weather or where I am is to spend an hour mall-walking for exercise. In fact, this is a favorite past time of many people who flock to their local mall to do a few laps, even before the stores open. In fact, most U.S. malls open their doors several hours before and allow people to walk. This is an especially attractive option– you are not tempted to shop or eat anything because everything is closed!
My favorite malls for getting exercise are multi-level, with stairs. I like to walk from one end to the other, and go up and down the stairs to enhance the benefits. Living most of the time in Florida where it is generally flat, I always find it extra challenging going to places like Italy, California, or places with hills, mountains, and lots of steps to climb–one way I keep these muscles conditioned is to make a point to climb stairs every so often as part of my routine.
Malls are great places to exercise because there is a lot to look at, they are air conditioned, generally clean, typically have security officers on hand to enhance safety, and depending on your timing, you can always grab a cup of coffee or beverage after you are done, or even a massage at Brookstone! There you have it– no excuses, next time it’s raining, too hot, or too cold to walk outside, head to the mall!
Pictured is International Plaza, an upscale mall in Tampa, Florida.
