Fitness Made Fun

No pain, lots of health gains. Believe it.

By Jean Munoz Keese
Edited by Amy Crelly

The key to success with any new habit is to start small, and make it fun! The same is true for making over your fitness regimen. As a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist, I teach my clients that real change happens in small steps we can actually enjoy taking. If you’re looking to boost your fitness in 2010, I recommend choosing something you can work into your daily or weekly routine and making it something you’ll actually enjoy doing.

SCHEDULE FITNESS TIME
Stress is a leading cause of disease, and exercise is a known antidote to stress. It also contributes to healthy weight loss, increased energy, and overall balance for both body and mind. First, choose something you like to do. Try walking with friends or co-workers at lunch; running or walking your dog after work; joining a yoga or pilates studio or taking an exercise class at a gym. Then, schedule it.

Make-it-happen tip: Put it on your calendar (in pen!), and treat it like a lunch date or appointment. Start with a realistic goal, maybe 1 time per week, and try to keep the timing consistent. Once you settle into your routine and feel great, you will likely find more time for your fitness program.

TAKE A HIKE!
Modern research now confirms this ancient wisdom: connecting to nature is a vital way to stay healthy and well. So, why not take your family hiking once a week? Hiking takes you outside into the fresh air, improves your fitness, and gives your entire family the opportunity to share discoveries and make memories.

Make-it-happen tip: Not sure where to start? Pick up a copy of Top Trails Sacramento by Steve Evans, or browse “Let’s Go!” columns at SacramentoParent.com. GreenHour.org is another excellent resource for parents who want to give their kids (and themselves) the physical, mental and emotional boosts that come with unstructured outdoor play time.

RIDE, WALK OR RUN FOR A CAUSE
"Adding the philanthropy element to your training program can be just the push you need to get you across the finish line," says Wendy Hoag, Moms in Motion team leader in Elk Grove. Giving to others and getting in a workout have both been shown to boost endorphins (those feel-good chemicals our bodies produce naturally). In the process you're also likely to get leaner and stronger, have fun, and make new friends.

Make-it-happen tip: Training with a team (and that race-day deadline on your calendar) offers structure and motivation. Some local events (like Run Rocklin) also include training and support for registered participants. For the latest on local and family-friendly fitness events that benefit good causes, check the calendar at SacramentoParent.com each month.

Jean is a freelance health writer, Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist, Yoga & Pilates instructor, and owner of Sattva Yoga, Pilates & Ayurveda in Rocklin. She lives in Foresthill with her husband, James, and their 1-year-old son, Huckleberry.