Get Moving

by Cheng-Ling Chen — December 25, 2007

As the year draws to an end and you set goals for next year, make fitness one of them. Exercising not only helps you look and feel better, it provides long-term benefits for your health, including:

• Reduces stress
• Improves mood and boosts confidence
• Prevents chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and certain types of cancer
• Burns calories and helps with weight management
• Strengthens heart and lungs, giving you more energy for everyday
• Enhances quality of sleep
• Provides positive effects on your sex life

Inspired but bored with the gym? Maybe it's time to try something new! If you are tired of running alone, join a running club. If you are a walker, start a walking group. Exercising doesn't have to be all work and no play. Check out the range of activities you can do to mix it up:

• Ballroom dance
• Belly dance
• Striptease and pole dance
• Hoola Hoop
• Bootcamp
• Martial arts
• Water yoga
• Circus arts, including trapeze and unicycle
• Rock climbing (or the urban equivalent of wall climbing)

Start the New Year right and get moving!