Even for the most avid exercisers, staying active during the holidays can be difficult.
Cold weather, tiring events, lots of food and drink at those events, and new streaming services that appear every month.
It may seem like the world is just begging you to park in front of the subway and sit on the couch.
Luckily, you can put that screen time to good use.
An easy and fun way to get your body moving while watching your favorite holiday classics is to play movie workout games. It’s like a drinking game…but you can replace drinking with exercise.
When you see or hear one of these cues in the holiday movies below, stand up and do a few moves. Your body will thank you.
christmas story
- Whenever Ralphie’s dream Christmas gift, the Red Ryder BB gun, is mentioned or seen, do 10 push-ups and light your own gun.
- Every time you hear about or see the infamous leg ramp, get up and do eight single leg deadlifts on each leg to activate your glutes and hamstrings.
home alone
- Every time Kevin (Macauley Culkin) performs a punishing stunt on the Home Invaders (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern), stand up and give them 10 butt-kicks on the spot while they’re getting their butts kicked.
- Every time someone says “Kevin” do a 10 second jab and cross punch.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
- When Chevy Chase tries 15 jumping jacks and fails, get up and do some cardio.
- When someone slips, skids, falls, or takes a header, stand up and do a few forward lunges. Like everyone in the movie, maintain proper form to avoid injury.
elf
- Every time Will Ferrell yells or yells something, he stands up and runs in a tight circle for 15 seconds. (Not recommended for revolving doors.)
- If someone jokes about your buddy, work your butt by hitting the floor and doing 10 glute bridges.
It’s a wonderful life
- When someone says “George Bailey,” get up from the couch and do five repetitions of the surrender exercise to wake up your quads.
- Every time you see snow, sit on the floor and do 8 T push-ups (4 on each side). You can work your upper body and core while peaking at the screen.
love actually
- Every time your character says the word “actually,” stand up and do 10 bodyweight squats.
- When emotional music plays during a heartfelt speech, sit on the floor and do a plank. Try holding it until the music stops…
Miracle on 34th Street
- When the Christmas tree appears on the screen, stand up and make a 5-star jump. The same goes for tree topping decorations, right?
- If you see Santa, give him a 30-second scissor kick to get rid of his Santa-like belly. (I love you, Santa!)
Vicious
- Every time Frank (Bill Murray) transitions from reality to fantasy and vice versa, he does 10 squat jacks.
- Frank touches the tie and there are 10 climbers.
charlie brown christmas
- When the classic upbeat theme song plays, you’ll get up and dance on the spot, like the scene in Peanuts where the kids are getting funky at the gym. Freestyle!
- In a symbolic mellow performance, Christmas season has arrivedRelax with a series of stretching exercises that you can do while seated or on the floor in front of the TV, including the seated neck stretch, chest and pectoral muscle stretch, and Happy Baby.
the grinch who stole christmas
- Whenever the Grinch grins, do one of the face yoga exercises, such as the cheek lift.
- As the Grinch crawls all over the place on his tiptoes, join in the fun by doing 10 standing calf raises.
