(Source: weather.com.cn)  

There is an old Chinese saying that goes, “Get exercise in the coldest days of winter.” Generally, Minor Cold is the coldest period in China, which is the best time for exercising and improving one’s physique.

When exercising, Chinese people will pay attention to the following aspects:

First, according to Chinese customs, it is better to go to bed earlier and get up later in winter. Thus, the best time for doing exercise is after sunrise, when the temperature is slightly higher. If there are strong winds, fog, and cold air in the morning, the weather is not suitable for outdoor exercise. Under those conditions, Chinese people do exercise inside or on the balcony.

Second, because people’s blood vessels contract in cold weather, the blood flow slows down, the viscosity of muscles increases and the flexibility of ligaments is lower, so Chinese people do some warm-up activities before exercising to avoid sport injuries.

Third, when doing exercise, it is not proper to wear excessively thick clothes. Before or after exercising, however, it is important to keep warm.

Fourth, people with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, gastrointestinal diseases and arthritis do not stay in environments characterized by low temperatures and great, terrible moisture. If they feel uncomfortable during their exercising, they stop it immediately or go to the hospital.

Source: weather.com.cn

Translated by Zhang Min

Editor: Wen Yi & Zhang Min