Last week was the last hurrah... until next winter... for my most invigorating and humbling workout: cross-country skiing. The sun was dazzling; the snow was fluffy, and the Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort in Soda Springs, California — one of the largest ski centers in North America — had half of their vast network of trails nicely groomed and open for business.

If only I were Norwegian. They are the Olympic gods of cross-country skiing, and I am a mere mortal, an enthusiastic intermediate who always prefers easier greens to risky blues, uphills to downhills, meditative pauses to killer sprints.

So here are a few notes about cross-country skiing I'd like to glide past you. If you cross-country ski now or are tempted to try it, you'll be inspired. But even if it's not a sport that lights your fire, read on, because there are lessons to be learned that apply to any sport you're into, even bowling:

TAKE A LESSON. People say that if you can walk, you can cross-country ski. They must be joking. It's a complex movement that takes practice, skill and balance to do well. If you just stumble around without an understanding of proper technique, you'll get tired and frustrated easily, without feeling the fun. And it's that feeling of fun that keeps you coming back. So for this sport and any other you feel drawn to, learn the basics from a good teacher or a group class. And yes, there's always YouTube.

OPEN TO NATURE. You can't cross-country ski indoors. Well, maybe you can somewhere in China — but in general, it's a sport that brings you into nature: going slowly enough to soak it in, moving across fields, through the trees, up one hill and down another. That deep connection to the natural world automatically nourishes and energizes you on a cellular level. How sweet is that? They don't call it the great outdoors for nothing.

DON'T PANIC. Cross-country skiing is so aerobic that it can easily take your breath away. Don't let it. Like any other sport done at a recreational level, you want to pace yourself — not too fast, not too slow. As one of my favorite yoga teachers says, "use only medium effort." If you find yourself feeling out of breath, slow down. Appreciate what you can do — on this day, with this body. And refocus your attention on slow, steady inhales and long, satisfying exhales. Pacing yourself this way keeps skiing fun, and that's what brings you back again, gradually improving your skills and your fitness.

PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE. Downhill skiing is a thrill, but it won't get you into shape the way cross-country skiing will. Cross-country works all your muscles and joints front to back and top to bottom. Most unusually, it also works you diagonally — right arm moves with the left leg, left arm with the right leg — and that's giving your brain the best bubble bath it ever had.

Cross-country skiing is also obscenely aerobic. The regular rhythmical movement — arms and legs moving in opposing directions — is fantastic for strengthening your core, heart and lungs, and for spreading those bliss-making endorphins throughout your body.

PREPARATION MATTERS. Because XC is challenging, you'll have an easier time of it if you've spent time off the slopes developing your strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. No matter what shape you're in, always start where you are. If you're slow, be slow. From that place of acceptance, your stamina will grow. And so will your joy.

STAY WARM AND HYDRATED. Always dress in layers, because even if it's super chilly when you begin, you'll generate so much warmth that you'll want to peel down after a few minutes. The layer closest to your skin should be a material that wicks away moisture. Cotton doesn't work well, because once it gets wet, it stays wet, and you'll get cold. The other layers depend on the weather. Hats trap body heat, and mittens are warmer than gloves. In any weather, you'll want to drink plenty of water, because if you don't, you'll tire more easily. And don't forget to pack some energizing snacks in your backpack or fanny pack: some nuts, a piece of fruit, a low-sugar, high-quality energy bar, or my latest discovery, wild mushroom jerky.

ENERGY EXPRESS-O! THERE'S A SPORT FOR EVERYONE

"I don't participate in any sport with ambulances at the bottom of the hill." — Erma Bombeck

Marilynn Preston is the author of Energy Express, America's longest-running healthy lifestyle column. Her new book "All Is Well: The Art {and Science} of Personal Well-Being" is available now on Amazon and elsewhere. Visit Creators Publishing at creators.com/books/all-is-well to learn more. For more on personal well-being, visit www.MarilynnPreston.com.

Photo credit: at Pixabay