HOW TO: Making Exercise Easy and Fun.

Exercise doesn’t have to be a dirty word. Though many of us love to avoid it like the bubonic plague, jumping onto the fitness bandwagon is the best gift you can give yourself for the benefit of your body, mind and soul. To get you really inspired, check out this exclusive Intent video starring our very own Holly Perkins, who demonstrates 5 very easy exercises you can do on your own without a gym membership or fancy exercise equipment.

Especially with obesity and preventable diseases on the rise in this country, the best action step we can take for the health benefit of our community is to lead by example. So inspire yourself and clean the dust off your running shoes. Inspire your family, friends and neighbors, too. 

Though all the health benefits are fine and dandy, let’s not forget the most important thing: exercise makes you feel GREAT! Getting that post-work-out glow gives you energy, boosts your mood and raises your self-esteem for bigger life challenges ahead. How’s that for a motivational kick in the butt to get your fanny off the couch? 

Check out these inspiring articles from our Intent Voice community to start exercising those fitness muscles. And go get yourself sweaty.

7 Fitness Classes That Are Fun, Fun, Fun! By Brett Blumenthal

If you are anything like me, you may end up falling into a routine when you go to the gym. One of the best things you can do if boredom sets in, however, is to shake things up a bit. Boredom is by far, one of the least motivating feelings! 

Exercise: Make It Part Of Your Daily Life By Caroline Sutherland

If you’re like me, you want to incorporate your exercise routine into your daily life – make it part of your day instead of adding something to your day.

5 Ways to Put the Fun Into Fitness By Debbie Mandel

When someone is mildly depressed, the first remedy that comes to mind: Exercise. In just fifteen minutes exercise burns off stress hormones and raises endorphin levels (the happiness hormone); now that’s a quick fix.

The Bar Method: Why This Cardio-Weight Combo Works By DivineCaroline

The Bar Method incorporates interval training —featuring short, hard bursts of intense aerobic work that increase participants’ heart rates—in addition to the muscle-strengthening exercises at the bar and in the center of the room.

5 Ways to Make Exercise Fun By Dr. Deb Brown

Researchers continue to identify new physical and emotional benefits from exercise, but if we approach our exercise routine with dread or despair, how long will we keep that routine going? Here are five ways to make an exercise routine more fun.

Neighborhood Fitness For Workout Flunkies By Kari Henley

Instead of going to the gym or a class, we met in a local parking lot, and spend an hour jogging through neighborhoods, huffing and puffing up stairs, stopping at a nice view for group squats, using park benches for push-ups, and ending with plank style ab crunches, and giggle-filled kegel tightening exercises.

3 Cost-Cutting Work-Out Tips — That Are Good For The Planet! By Linda LaRue

We all agree that we need to do a better job conserving our planet’s limited resources.  Where do you begin?  Here are 3 simple solutions that will help you get green into your workout routine without much effort at all.  These eco-friendly changes are easy switches that will save you time and lots of money. 

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This series was inspired by the Monroe County Health Council, winner of the Pepsi Refresh Project, and their intent is to promote healthy lifestyle through the venue of exercise within their community. To learn more about the Pepsi Refresh Project, visit www.refresheverything.com.