Healthy Monday: Fitness Can Be Free

You don’t need an expensive gym membership or fancy equipment to get active. Exercise is any movement that works your muscles and uses more energy than resting. Try walking around your neighborhood, playing tag with the kids, using resistance bands, running up and down the stairs, making your own weights at home or doing push ups and sit ups.
 
Come up with some creative, free fitness ideas this week. Remember that playing sports, swimming, biking and other fun activities all count as exercise! 

For more Healthy Monday tips, click here.

Casting Call: Want to be on Television?

From Olympian Jeff Galloway:

Jeff is now taking his training program to television! We are shooting a pilot program February 28 – 29, 2012 and are looking for a few Atlanta area runners/walkers to be a part of this exciting new adventure taking place at Lake Lanier Islands Resort.  If you are available these two dates (the entire two days) please send in information on why you would like to and possibly need to work with Jeff.  We are asking for a few things from you to help us pick our runners:

1) Why you run or would like to begin running
2) How frequent and far are your run/walks
3) What challenges have you faced recently
4) What are your fitness/health/life goals
5) Confirmation that you are 100% available
6) Recent picture

We ask that you allow the camera crew one or two follow-up visits to your home or recreation location after this primary shoot is over to check on your progress.  There will be no compensation for your participation but you will receive one night of accommodations at Lake Lanier Islands Resort if you choose to stay there.  Food and beverage will also be provided.  We will be looking at runners of all ages and abilities.

If you are interested, please send your response to Born2runtv@gmail.com.

If you are chosen, we will contact you by February 1, 2012. Thank you!
  

-Jeff Galloway Productions

Recycle Your Resolutions

{Form} yoga studio in Decatur  invites the community to a New Year kick-off event this Saturday, January 7th. Doors open at 9am and the $12 yoga class will begin at 10am. Meet the teachers, see the space, exchange your old resolutions for chances to win gift certificates and have fun! All levels and  ages are invited. {Form} is located at 508 East Howard Avenue between the Ice House Lofts and Feast Restaurant.

This  grand opening and studio kick off  event has the theme of “Recycling Your Resolutions”. There is a tendency to make the same New Years Resolutions year in and year out and so they are encouraging people to exchange the old for something new with the focus on self-care and healthy living. For more information  click here.

Walking for Fitness

The New Year is the time when many people make a commitment to healthier living. Both diet and exercise are a part of that commitment. Decatur Active Living is going to make a commitment to help. Today begins a series of walking tips to help you get off on the right foot (yes, pun intended).

Taking a Fitness  Walk
Find your neutral posture, with your head and chin level and your shoulders down and relaxed, looking forward. Keep your chest open and breathe naturally. Bend your elbows at 90 degrees and hold your hands in relaxed fists with your palms facing in and your arms pumping forward and back to assist leg action. Be sure to pull in your abdominal muscles slightly to support the lower back. While walking, keep at a pace moderate enough that you can still talk but not easily carry on a conversation. Break a  sweat. (Yes, even in cold weather you will break a sweat). Your pace should equal about 4 miles an hour, about 140 steps per minute. And most important, keep a smile and your face and enjoy!

Be sure to check with your physican before starting any exercise program.

Walking tips are taken from The Walking Deck, by Shirley Archer and published by Archer Books.

Jeff Galloway Offers Advice for Exercising in the Heat

Former Olympian Jeff  Galloway offers advice for exercising in the heat in his lastest news-email. When you sign up for Team Decatur to compete in the Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run/Walk you will receive information from Jeff along with other health and fitness information.

“Do you find yourself saying “It’s too hot to exercise” a little too often? Air conditioning and a cold bowl of ice cream are calling your name. As the temperature soars, I know it’s easy to talk yourself out of exercise. But, step away from the freezer.

While you do have to make some adjustments to exercise safely, don’t let hot weather negatively affect your good habits. When your schedule allows, avoid the hottest part of the day and get your outdoor exercise during the cooler morning hours. If you know you’ll be out in the hotter afternoon or evening hours, drink water or a sports drink regularly throughout the day to stay hydrated. Fill and freeze a water bottle to take along with you for a cool refresher during your activities.

No matter how much you hydrate, when the temperature gets into the 80s, 90s or even higher, scale back on your running/walking pace or your overall exertion level to safely exercise outdoors. Experienced exercisers may even notice the effects of heat at a relatively cool 55 degrees! “

Find recommendations for your pace based on the temperature and more tips and advice to handle summer’s sizzle with Jeff’s  Seasonal Training Tips.

Activities to Help You Stay Young, Fit & Active

Retired and looking to make new friends while keeping fit and active? Decatur Active Living has a variety of activities for you. You may want to join the Keenagers; this social group meets the first Thursday of the month at 10 am. They take trips, learn healthy ways of living and have a lot of fun.
The Decatur Red Hatters meet on the last Tuesday of each month at 11 am. I love seeing them come into the Rec Center adorned in red hats and purple dresses. They always seem to be having a lot of fun and the lunch they have together looks and smells quite yummy.

Ms. Elzey and the Senior Exercise Class

If you have been meaning to get some exercise, you may want to check out the Africancercise Class which meets on Monday and Wednesday from noon until 2 pm. This class will give you a unique body workout that blends breathing techniques, full body stretching, low to medium aerobic  movement and steps originating from traditional African dances. The Decatur Stride Walkers meet in the DRC gym each Tuesday and Thursday from 8 until 10 am for a pleasant walk and stress-free exercise. And of course, we also offer Senior Aerobics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:15 until 11:30 am.

For more information on Senior Activities, check out page 12 of the Playbook online.