With flu season just around the corner (not to mention that whole, ya know, pandemic thing), we thought it might be a good idea to look at one of the best ways to boost your immunity – exercise! That’s right, moving that booty and getting those sweat glands working is not only great for your mood, fitness, and overall health, it also happens to be terrific for supporting that immune system. And when your immunity is in tip-top shape, your body is able to ward off many of those drag-you-down illnesses. So with that in mind, let’s take a look at the best workouts to boost your immunity. 

Before we jump in though, we’d be remiss to not mention one of the best ways to keep your immune system going full throttle – and that is… sleep! Getting in those ZZZ’s is absolutely essential for keeping those white blood cells at the ready. So don’t even think about going overboard and sacrificing sleep for that crack-of-dawn bootcamp class. Better to seek your slumber and approach your workouts fresh and awake. Ok, ready? Let’s begin!

Moderate Strength Training

A solid strength training routine improves your immunity in two ways. First, it’s great for increasing blood flow, which helps move those disease-battling white blood cells through your body. And second, it releases endorphins, which lower your stress levels (too much stress tends to lower our immunity). A regular weight lifting regimen will keep those muscles pumping, and will help prevent overworking your body – which can actually lower your immunity (and you don’t want to do that, so keep it moderate!). To get started on your iron-pumpin’ way, check out some of our Body Sculpting Workouts. 

Hiking Outdoors

Taking a hike in the great outdoors is a spectacular way to boost your body’s natural immunity. It’s both a terrific low-impact workout that burns calories and increases blood flow, plus, since it keeps you outside in the sunshine, it encourages your body to produce vitamin D – which, you guessed it, leads to a better functioning immune system!

High-Intensity Interval Training

The thing we absolutely adore about HIIT is how powerful a cardiovascular workout it is, and how easy it is to do at home. In about 15-20 minutes, you can get your heart pumping, your body working, and that sweat pouring out of you (and you know we love SWEAT). A good HIIT routine will have exercises like burpees, jump squats, a high-knee run – stuff that will keep you in action. Try exercising for 35 seconds and resting for 25 seconds – this will make sure you’re working hard without overdoing anything. We’ve got tons and tons (like seriously, tons) of amazing HIIT Classes, all of which are guaranteed to get that heart pumping and that sweat flowing. 

Cycling

A nice 45-minute outdoor bike ride, done every day, is one of the best ways to boost your immunity. Sustained cardio like this keeps your blood flowing and your white blood cells circulating. And best of all, cycling is so fun and addicting – after a while you’ll forget you’re even working out! If you’re not down to strap on the helmet and get outside, an indoor cycle is also a perfect way to get in quick workouts whenever you’ve got the time. If you do decide to pick up an indoor cycle for your home, jump on the saddle with our huge collection of  onDemand Spinning Workouts – we guarantee you, you’ll feel it in the morning. 

Boosting your immune system is fundamental to staving off infection and keeping you healthy. And if you’d like to try any and all of these exercise types from the comfort of your home, sign up for a  7-Day Free Trial with Studio SWEAT onDemand. Our huge library of streaming fitness classes like Bootcamp, Kickboxing, HIIT, TRX®, Spin®, Yoga, Pilates, and many more, will keep your body working, your booty moving, and your immune system working at its best. See you soon!