Many people obsess about getting regular exercise. Being active is very important, but what that looks like for one may look completely different for another. Whether you walk, run, swim, dance, lift weights, practice martial arts, cycle, climb, hike, do yoga or pilates, it's all movement and a benefit to your health. Some stay active through every day living, while others are unable to do much at all because of health or other limitations. Trying to find a way to include some sort of physical activity in your daily life is a worthy goal and something to strive for for not only yourself, but your family as well. With the distraction of media and technology it's become harder and harder to get children and adults outside moving. My home has this challenge, as do many others. The key is to find how to fit physical activity in your life as it is now. Looking back or forward to how it was or how you hope it to be does not really help. Find a way to be active today no matter how it may look.

Many years ago before marriage and children I would follow along with aerobic, yoga, and other fitness videos. My body could handle it and I had all the time in the world. Beyond the videos my favorite activity at the time would be long hikes through the mountains of Maine with friends and family. It was so invigorating! During my early married years I occasionally used my treadmill, but most of my exercise revolved around chasing and cleaning up after young children. Walks with a stroller around the mall or neighborhood near the school after dropping an older sibling off was another way I stayed active. Now with age and some physical limitations I typically keep busy with the care and upkeep of my home and property. There are a lot of projects that require strength, movement, and endurance. My days and weeks are filled with mowing, sanding, painting, reaching, squatting, bending, stretching, pushing, pulling, lifting, pounding, twisting, and so forth. I typically end up with a hurt back or sore muscles after a job is completed, which requires a time of rest and recovery, and then I start on the next project. I have not had an exercise routine for many years now (see update below), but the work I do in caring for my home and family has kept me in decent shape, though my hope is to find a way to have a stronger, more firm and lean body.

As an update (as of mid-2018) I am happy to say that I have finally found an exercise routine that works for me. In order to protect my knees and back from high impact damage and pain I have chosen to use an elliptical/recumbent bike hybrid machine each morning (20 minutes elliptical and 20 minutes recumbent bike). Since starting this routine I have noticed a decrease in back pain, an increase of strength and endurance, as well as an overall feeling of wellness I did not have before. I've got more work to do, but the progress I have made so far is a good place to build upon. It is now Spring of 2022 and I have been able to keep up with this morning routine and still feel the benefits.

During my research efforts I have come across some interesting websites and insights concerning different forms of activity. Since I am "middle aged" and have back issues my search mostly concerns what would be safe and beneficial for someone like me. (07/2023 - broken links have been removed/replaced).

• Namaste the Pain Away: 15 Yoga Poses for Back Pain - "Get ready to stretch it and say buh-bye to back pain with these yoga poses."
• 5 Gentle Back Pain Stretches for Seniors - "Not only will a few simple stretches help you treat back pain at home, but they can also help you avoid pain in the future."
• 11 Exercises to Do While Sitting at Your Computer - "If you are sitting in front of a computer all day for your work, make the most of it by exercising your different muscle groups even while you are finishing a PowerPoint presentation or filling out cells in an Excel worksheet."
• 7 Common Hiking Mistakes to Avoid - "Because hiking isn't quite as simple as putting one foot in front of the other, we asked Mandy Pohja, a wilderness instructor with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), to give us the top mistakes that tend to trip people up."
• The Top Ten Health Benefits of Hiking - "You know hiking is good for your health. But do you know just how good it is?"