When your trainer asks you if you did any exercise over the weekend, never answer with “I went shopping”.  The mall is not a fitness centre.  Unless you spent a considerable amount of time on the treadmill in Sears, the answer is no.

Kidding aside, active living is very important in our daily lives.  Cleaning the house, taking the stairs and parking at the furthest end of the lot, is absolutely necessary in our sedentary lives. We need to balance all of the sitting with some movement.  Go out for a walk on your lunch, do some squats or climb some stairs on your break and get up and stretch throughout the day.  Keep it moving and keep it working.

Cardiovascular exercise is quite a different thing.  Activities such as power walking, running, cycling, swimming, elliptical and  stair climbing all require a bit of sweat, effort, and skill.  The endurance, strength and intensity involved in these activities will strengthen your heart and lungs. They can also improve your  balance, proprioception and joint mobility.  When you walk for exercise it should be brisk.  You should be able to talk, but you may prefer not to.  It is recommended that you do  3 – 5 sessions of aerobic activity per week.  If you only have 20 minutes, crank up the intensity (always consult your Doctor first, of course).  If you have more time, high to moderate intensity will give you a good workout.  Also, make sure to add some resistance and flexibility training to your routine as well.

This being said, sometimes there is nothing better than a slow, thoughtful hike on a nature trail.  We all need that for peace of mind. Everything has it’s place.  It always comes back to finding balance and giving your mind, body and soul what it needs, when it needs it.