Exercise for the
Fun of It

There are numerous reasons why you should participate in regular and consistent exercise routines. Exercise contributes to your overall well-being. Physical activity can help you and your family be and feel healthier. Some of the top ten reasons to exercise are:

1. Boosts your energy level

2. Improves your balance, coordination and flexibility

3. Improves circulation

4. Strengthens your heart, lungs, bones and muscles

5. Burns the fat and calories you consume throughout the day

6. Helps you sleep better
at night

7. Reduces stress and depression

8. Reduces the risk for preventable conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol

9. Helps you live longer

10. And exercise improves self image

With that in mind are you looking for ways to be active? Here are a few ideas:

• Go for walks before and after dinner

• Persons who cannot walk might do leg and arm movement chair exercises

• Do household chores together

• Use TV commercial time as fitness breaks

• Pick a sport everyone can do and have a weekly sports night

• Put kids to work in the yard

• Team up for gardening

• Walk the dog

• Crank up the music and dance

Before starting any exercise program be sure to check with your healthcare provider about any possible medical problems you may have that would limit your activities.

We’re proud to feature a number of individuals and families from the community who are doing things they love to do and contributing to their quality of life at the same time.

Swimming is a family affair for the Marshalls. Father and uncle Jon Paul Marshall along with his kids Shynece, Jon Paul, Keshon, niece, Asia and nephew Dominick love to splash in the Brush Creek Community Center pool. Other activities they enjoy together are biking, walking and picking apples. Marshall says “I do it [activities] for my health; they think it’s fun. I try to mix it all together.”

Letty and Jocelyn Rangel, mother (left) and daughter, take to the walking path at Loose Park for a brisk walk and a nice chat.

Waiting for a court isn’t downtime for friends Caleb Wurth and Sam Gorosh. The two bat around a tennis ball as they wait. Wurth says they try to play tennis every day or every other day. They feel it’s a great way to keep in shape for school athletics.

Mark and Shandrea Johnson enjoy taking
their daughter, Taviona, to the park. They
take advantage of the many parks in Kansas City. Other activities they enjoy together are bowling, going to the movies and out for dinner.

Family can include those with four feet. Bryan Larson takes Daisy, his “demanding member of the family,” out for a walk around Loose Park. They especially love the lake and the ducks. “Walking in the park is a healthy exercise and a great activity to relieve stress,” says Larson.

Bicycling is more than a casual activity for Chuong and Erin Doan. Riding the Katy Trail, tennis, and taking long walks are among some of their favorite activities according to Doan, and doing them together makes it more enjoyable.

Brothers Delion and Deion had a thrill with the “old fashion” sport of sack racing, as family members cheered them on.

Stan Archie, Senior Pastor of Christian Fellowship Baptist Church knows he won’t be playing solo for long when his youthful neighbors Jace Henderson, Dante Collins, Will Smith and Anthony Robinson hear the bounce of his basketball. “I challenge them on the court, plus it’s a good workout for us. I also use this time to mentor them about life and health,” says Pastor Archie.

Kicking the ball around is a favorite activity of John Benz and his son Cooper. “We like to do anything outside, biking, baseball,” Benz said. “Since we live in the city we’re able to do things like walking to dinner.”