by Kenda Robertson

Created on: October 09, 2008   Last Updated: December 29, 2010

Baby, it may be cold outside, but you can still stay fit by working out inside.

It is that time of year when a lot of people just can't bear to face the frigid weather and go outdoors to exercise. But who can blame them when it is so warm and cozy indoors?

But what do you do during those cold winter months when you don't want to spend money to join a health club, but you still want to stay fit?

Work out in your warm home!

With all the activities available to the fitness conscious that can be done at home, there is no need to pay for an expensive gym membership. You can stay fit while having fun in your own space for the minimal cost of equipment or even for free.

And if working out alone doesn't excite you, invite family or friends over for a little inspirational group exercising. It could be a great way to spend quality time with your spouse and kids too.

So kick off the galoshes and park the parka, here are some indoor workouts that will get you revved up and going:

Yoga
What better way to warm up and tone those cold muscles than with the gentle, but invigorating practice of yoga? One of the great things about yoga is that you can do it almost anywhere and with very little equipment or space. You will probably want a basic yoga mat, about $20, and some comfortable clothes. As you progress, you may want to add other equipment like a yoga blanket, stretching strap or a yoga block, but they are not necessary.

Following along with yoga DVDs and programs on Fitness TV is a great way to jumpstart your home routine. Eventually you may want to create your own personalized program and do what feels good to you. It may be a good idea to take a live class to get the feel of the yoga practice.

Jump Rope
For the price of a good jump rope (about $10), a pair of cushioned shoes and a 3-foot-by-4-foot jumping space, you can get a serious cardio workout and burn calories in as little as 5 minutes of jumping rope (and up to 1000 calories per hour).

Jumping rope is an efficient exercise that tones muscles in all the major muscle groups, strengthens bones, and improves agility, coordination and endurance. Since it is such an intense exercise, if you are new to jumping, you will want to start out slow and easy and work your way up to 15-20 minutes.

Once you become proficient at jumping, add different moves, such a double jumps on one leg or even backward jumping, to keep it fun and interesting. Jumping to your favorite music is a great way to keep you going.

Exercise Ball
The air-filled

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