April is a big month for fitness promotion, with World Day of Physical Fitness on April 6 and National Exercise Day on April 18. These days remind us of the importance of making exercise a part of our lives, and Fredericksburg Fitness Studio is inviting people to get started with a fun fitness journey. Aiming for fun fitness will help keep people active and sticking with it.

“There are many ways to make exercise fun and effective," explains Jennifer Scherer, a registered dietitian nutritionist, medical exercise specialist, certified personal trainer, and owner of Fredericksburg Fitness Studio. “By choosing something you enjoy, you are likelier to keep doing it. Plus, doing something fun will bring more joy to your life."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, physical activity has many immediate and long-term benefits. It helps people feel better, function better, and sleep better. Being physically active is good for the brain, helps maintain a healthy weight, and reduces risks for numerous health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. It also helps keep people from getting infectious diseases. It also helps strengthen bones and muscles and helps people maintain their balance as they age.

Fredericksburg Fitness Studio invites everyone to discover fun and innovative ways to stay fit, which include:

Get creative with getting daily movement in. This can include using things like canned veggies and gallons of water as weights and bed sheets, towels, and blankets to help with stretches. 

Thinking outside the box. Those who don’t have time to get away from the kids to exercise can ask them to join in by playing tag, using the monkey bars at the playground, or taking them through a workout using bodyweight exercises. Those stuck at the office can ask co-workers if they would like to take a quick walk to get steps in or take a break from the desk to do stretches.

Find fun ways to get movement in, such as the one's trainer Jessica Domi offers, including a Stability Ball Workoutand a Hula Hoop Exercise. The studio also offers free workouts on YouTube, with more being added soon. Check out the HIIT Monthly Workout for some free fun fitness.

Everyone should set a timer on their phone to schedule movement breaks. Use the time to walk, squat, stretch, perform mobility movements, etc. Focus on getting more movement on physical activity holidays and throughout the year.

Try a new style of workout. Some examples include Pilates, HIIT, kickboxing, indoor rock climbing, axe throwing, pickleball, golf, etc. Make a goal this month to try something new and see how it feels.

Reach out to fitness professionals when help is needed to achieve goals. It's a good idea to evaluate the fitness journey periodically and determine if working with someone can help reach the next level.

“We have helped many people jumpstart and maintain an exercise program and see results," added Scherer. "It's difficult for many people to do it on their own, and we love being able to help them be successful and more physically active."

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, adults should move more and sit less during the day. Even some physical activity is better than none. To gain substantial health benefits, they recommend that adults do 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity exercise. Adults should also do muscle-strengthening activities. They recommend that older adults also include balance training.

Fredericksburg Fitness Studio doesn't offer memberships like other gyms. Instead, it offers private, customized fitness programs available by appointment. Many people who go to the studio are referrals from physical therapists and doctors. The wellness professionals at the studio communicate with the medical teams to keep them up to date on patient progress. Their reformer Pilates fitness training program is a fun and unique exercise method with many benefits. The reformer can be done sitting, standing, or lying down, which gives a great workout. The program helps with strength, flexibility, balance and coordination, core control, and more. To learn more about Fredericksburg Fitness Studio, visit the site: https://www.fburgfitness.com.