Enjoy the benefits of physical activity:

• Reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke

• Lower total blood cholesterol and increase HDL (the "good" cholesterol)

• Prevent and help manage high blood pressure

• Lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes

• Reduce the risk of developing colon cancer

• Help build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints

• Help achieve and maintain a healthy body weight

• Promote psychological well-being and reduce feelings of stress
  

The current physical activity recommendations for adults from the CDC and Healthy People 2010 are: 

• Moderate-intensity activity such as walking briskly, bicycling on level terrain, dancing or swimming for at least 30 minutes on 5 or more days of the week.
  
  OR
   

• Vigorous-intensity activity such as jogging, bicycling uphill, participating in high-impact aerobic dancing or swimming continuous laps 3 or more days per week for 20 or more minutes per occasion.
  

Sources of general physical activity information:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Physical Activity for Everyone
  Importance of physical activity, ways to measure physical activity intensity, tips for being more active.

• American Heart Association
  Information on the benefits of physical activity, calorie use chart, suggestions on how to incorporate physical activity into your daily life.

• Weight-control Information Network
  Tips on how to break through barriers that might keep you from being active.

• MyPyramid Tracker
  Sister site to MyPyramid.gov. Allows you to enter your activities for the day and assess your level of physical activity.
  

Activity Video

Learn how to integrate the Movin' and Groovin physical activity video into the workplace or classroom by clicking on the Movin' and Groovin Guidesheet

Programs to help you become more active:

• Stay Strong Stay Healthy video clip
  Weight lifting program for staff wellness. Contact your local University of Missouri Extension Center for more Information.

• America on the Move
  Pedometer-based physical activity tracking program with goals and challenges.

• Show-Me Shape Up
  Team-based physical activity challenges.

• Couch-to-5K Running Plan
  Program which can help you move from being sedentary to running 3 miles in 9 weeks.

Yoga Instructional MP3s
Be led through a yoga session with prominent Vancouver yoga instructor Eoin Finn. Download the MP3s to your computer or iPod!

• Yoga Quickie (25 minutes)

• Yoga Honey (37 minutes)

  • Yoga Honey PDF1

  • Yoga Honey PDF2

  • Yoga Honey PDF3

• Winter Session (40 minutes)

• Tragically Hips (55 minutes)

For more information on specific poses, including instructions, cautions and modifications, try Yoga Journal.