Move Naturally

Have fun, move naturally and feel fabulous!

It’s time to get off the treadmill, step outside, move and have some fun! November’s Blue Zone concept to help you bring about balance and create a healthier lifestyle is to move naturally. According to the CDC, only 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 5 high school students are getting enough exercise.  Our bodies are meant to move, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer through grueling workouts to meet this goal.   

People living in Blue Zone areas think differently about movement. It isn’t scheduled workout routines that keep them moving; movement is built right into their daily lives. Walking, gardening, cooking, housecleaning, biking, hiking and dancing are just a few ways they keep moving.    

People living in Blue Zones build movement right into their lives.

For me, I’m trying to be more mindful about natural resources near where I live. I guess you could say I have lots to do “right in my own backyard.” My house literally backs up to a rail trail, so my husband and I spend time bike riding together. Our neighborhood has bocce and pickle ball courts, a swimming pool, exercise classes, line dancing and more. Combining fun with fitness is a fabulous (see this month’s plant slant recipe Fab Cakes) way to keep moving.  As George Bernard Shaw said, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”  

Reflection:  What can you do to bring more fun, play and movement into your life?  What types of activities did you love to do as a child that you’ve forgotten about?

Action:  Set aside 30 minutes to bring some type of movement into your day . . . try to incorporate this activity into your schedule 3 times a week over the next month.

Recipe:  "Fab Cakes" served over arugula (Purple Carrot)