search engine by freefind

advanced

 

Return to Essential Skills

The Power of Fun: Celebrate Enjoyable Ways To Be Active!

Make FUN your focus & forget you're exercising.

When you think of the word “exercise”—What usually comes to mind? For many people the reaction is immediate, and negative. Words like leotards, aerobics classes, sweating, embarrassment, and pain come up. Physical activity is simply moving your body.

When you think of children playing, what images come to mind? Do they worry about their “target heart rate”? Aerobic zone? Frequency/intensity/time-duration?

NO! You can’t get them to stop. Do they just have ONE fun activity, or several planned? Remember back: tag games, tether ball, monkey bars, jump rope, skate boards, scooter with wheels, bikes, skipping and hop scotch, making mud pies, damming up water flowing down the sides of a street, and many other creative ways to MOVE!
 

To help change our attitude about "being active" it is helpful to focus on what we ENJOY doing. Now, thinking back to your childhood—What activities did you enjoy?  How about now?  Do you ever wonder what has changed? First, to help us out, we might want to EXERCISE OUR IMAGINATION! MAKING FUN YOUR FOCUS—AND FORGETTING THAT YOU’RE EXERCISING!

  • Take your kids (or your dog!) for a nature walk.

  • Compete in a sport you enjoy.

  • Play Frisbee or hide-and-seek with your kids.

  • Show off your dog and delight him with a walk.

  • Grow  your own delicious vegetable or beautiful flower garden, or participate in a community garden.

  • Go to the malls before they open in the morning and window shop (leave your credit cards at home!).

  • Plan a walk to visit with a friend. You could bring along healthy snacks and water to drink!

  • Participate in a hiking or biking club or find your own path.

  • Try in-line skating, a romantic walk, or dancing for a date.

  • Encourage or instruct your child in a sport.

  • Dance to your favorite music or take lessons.

To Celebrate Physical Activity for You and Your Family visit:
For information about physical activity and health
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/index.htm
 

Pictures Below Show the Many Ways I Embrace An Active Style of Living!

(Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image.)

Get Happy About The Joys Of Being Active!

Having FUN Making Things Bloom!

Portland, the City Of Roses!

The Side Yard

I come from two generations of gardeners. You can see my mother's mother's bird bath.

The Side Yard

You can see my father's mother's bird bath. Mary blessing the world!

Oh, Spring Time!

In the yard there are about 50 rhododendrons, azelas, and camelias. See also a pink Dogwood tree.

My Jazzercise Group Check-In

Oh, was this FUN!

Friends Out Hiking

Wild Flowers on Mount Hood

Zig Zag Canyon on Mount Hood

Paradise Park on Mount Hood

Ah, REST after a hike!

Smith Rocks Area

Oh, what FUN to wander around!

Smith Rocks Area

Bob in Hoh River Rain Forest

50-pound back pack.

Mount Jefferson

Experience fields of wild flowers!

Clackamas River Trail Area

I LOVE nature!

Clackamas River Trail Area

Bob at Goat Rocks Wilderness Area

I never would have been able to go here if I was still overweight. I'm SO grateful I lost the weight!

A Friend Hiking in a Rain Forest

Salmon River

I LOVE this place

Salmon River

Oh, what a PLEASURE to camp here!

All images are copyright © by Bob Wilson

 

Explore around Frolic In Nature!

 

What Is Bob’s Regular Workout?

 

1

             Copyright © 2001-2022 Bob Wilson BS, DTR  All Right Reserved. Articles are for personal use only. Please request permission for other uses. Thanks!