Getting sick over the summer isn’t ideal, but it happens. Despite popular belief, it doesn’t have to be freezing outside for you to catch a cold. Still, there are some exercises you can do despite feeling under the weather.
Certain workouts are better than others. Richard Besser, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, told Health.com the "neck rule" is a useful way to determine whether or not working out is safe.
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That means feeling symptoms above the neck, including sneezing and a stuffy nose, generally means it’s safe to get moving. However, below-the-neck symptoms such as a sore throat or cough, or more serious ones like fever-related chills and vomiting, mean you should rest instead.
Despite the guidelines, you should pay attention to your body and contact your doctor if you’re feeling especially ill or have any concerns.
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If you’re not feeling very sick and want to be active, here are four options for working out, according to Health.com.
Go for a walk
Running is out of the question, but taking a walk is OK, according to the American Lung Association. The organization says mild to moderate exercise is usually fine if you have a cold.
Relieve stress with yoga
If you want to be active and still take it relatively easy, yoga can be a good option. Shape magazine has some poses you can do if you fall ill, including one that assists with clearing congestion and help you relax.
Practice Qi Gong
Like yoga, this slow-paced cross between meditation and martial arts can provide stress relief, which is good since studies have shown chronic stress can lead to persistent cold symptoms.
Get dancing
While you may want to skip going to dance class to avoid spreading your illness, it may be beneficial to bust a move in your home by taking a low-impact class online. The Daily Telegraph reported research shows that simply listening to 50 minutes of dance music can have immune system-boosting benefits.
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