I am "The Pole Lady", so you would think that, during a Pole Walking Clinic, I would teach Pole Walking. Well yes, I do, but not until we talk a bit about exercise & how it affects us. How it affects not only our physical & mental health but our overall lives.

Here are Ten Top reasons why you should start exercising – now:

• if you are at all over weight, 1 out of 4 North Americans are obese & almost the same are overweight, exercise is one of the easiest ways to lose & maintain weight.
• if you are tired more often then not & have very little energy, it's one the easiest ways to recharge your battery.
• if you get sick often & seem to catch every bug that floats by your nose, it's helps to boost your immune system.
• if you have high blood pressure, 1 in 5 North Americans do - It is the number one risk factor for stroke and a major risk factor for heart disease, exercise helps lower those risks.
• if you have back problems, a weak core is often the cause of most back pain, & a strong core is the key to eliminating most chronic pain issues.
• if you are stressed all the time, there aren't many people who don’t feel better after they get moving.
• if you have trouble sleeping, exercise increases circulation – which helps for a more restful sleep.
• if you have high cholesterol, exercise assists in lowering it.
• if you have diabetes or it's in your family, it's proven being active helps keep blood sugars in check.
• if you have suffered from a heart attack, have heart disease or it's in your family – there isn't a doctor out there who would tell you to sit around on the couch all day & not do a thing.

It's phenomenal how important exercise is for us & just how many reasons "why" we need to get exercising right now! Regular activity not only helps us to prevent a long list of health challenges but it helps us feel better & think more clearly ... ultimately enhancing the quality of our lives.

Now of course there are many different kinds of exercise out there – choosing the one that is right for you can make the difference between "wanting to get going" or "avoiding it like the plague".

The secret to knowing whether an exercise / activity is right for you is that:
1. It should be fun- it's best if it's something you look forward to (there is nothing worse then dreading exercise - it's no wonder so many people tend to put it off).
2. It should not be too hard to do - there are many ways to tell if you are working hard enough, the easiest way to be sure (for the average person) is if you are feeling warm (but not sweating profusely) & you are breathing harder yet still able to speak without being too out of breath.

Regardless of what you choose to do to exercise – it's important you get active & move your body regularly. The longer you wait & the less active you are will only increase your risks of so many different kinds of health challenges. So don’t wait till you become a statistic - get out & get moving. Be accountable for your own health – you have a choice – choose to be fit & healthy!

"Thank-you!" to those of you who read my column – I'm always surprised at how many people recognize me from my little picture. In keeping in-line with what I write about (& practicing what I preach) I will be taking a little break, from now until the middle of September, to spend some time with my family while our kids are out school. Until then have a wonderful summer & WALK – ON ...