WELLNESS MOMENT

Dare to be Great

April 2, 2020

More than ever, it is important to find ways to stay physically fit and mentally strong.  Staying active is critical in boosting our overall health and immune system.  Fortunately, you don’t need a gym or exercise equipment to stay in shape during this time of social distancing.  Just because gyms are closed does not mean that you should stop exercising!  Every little bit of movement counts; the key to good physical and mental health is to keep moving.

You can weave exercise into your daily routine and no equipment is needed!   The next time you are streaming you favorite TV show, plan to exercise during the commercial breaks and rest while watching your show.  According to Nielsen data, most shows contain 11 minutes and 20 seconds of ad time during each television hour.  If you watch TV for a total of 3 hours during the day and do a mini workout during each commercial break, your exercise time will total over 45 minutes!  In addition, working out during commercial breaks will make you less likely to head to the kitchen for mindless snacking which is a big contributor to weight gain.

If you are looking for guidance or prefer more structured workouts, the YMCA has free on-demand videos including bootcamp, barre, yoga, weightlifting, and tai chi.  Please visit https://ymca360.org/ to access this site.  In addition, “FitOn” is a free app that you can download on your phone; you can choose workouts that target your preferences and personal goals.

“Exercise not only changes your body, it changes your mind, your attitude, and your mood.” unknown