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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 people just can't bare 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 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. 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.

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.

EXERCISE BALL
The air-filled exercise ball is a versatile inexpensive tool, about $20, that you can use to strengthen and tone every muscle in your body in a small workout space. The ball is especially beneficial for improving core (or midsection) stability, posture and muscle balance. Combine hand weights with your ball workout for added strength training and cardio benefits.

Specific ball exercises are available on the Internet, in books and magazines, and on DVDs.

DANCE, DANCE, DANCE
Nothing could be cheaper, easier and more fun than dancing. Turn on your favorite music and let yourself go. If you prefer a more structured dance workout, try one of the many instructional DVDs available for Latin, hip hop, belly dancing, square dancing, and even tap dancing to get yourself motivated.

An hour of dancing can burn up to 500 calories, depending on the type of dancing. It also increases stamina, strengthens and tones the legs and thighs, and increases flexibility and balance.

Staying in shape throughout the winter can be a challenge, but it can also be a lot of fun. Whether you stick to one specific type of exercise or vary your routine, you need to discover what works best for you. By keeping fit in winter, it will be easier to continue your outdoor workout when the warm winds of spring arrive.

Learn more about this author, Kenda Robertson.
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