Research studies and programs are being implemented to explore the benefits of green exercise. Green exercise is any physical activity that takes place within the natural environment: gardening, walking, bicycling, running, jogging, playing outdoor sports, skiing, hiking, swimming, or anything else you want to do outside.

Get in shape while enjoying the great outdoors. Great ways to implement green activity into your life include:

• Walk or bicycle to work and other locations instead of driving.

• Go outside and walk around on your lunch break instead of surfing the Internet or sitting down to eat.

• Plant a garden and tend to it every day.

• Stop at a local park on your way home from work every day and walk, jog, or bicycle around the park.

• Get your fiancé involved and go on weekly hiking excursions; pick a new spot every week.

• Get together with friends for weekly matches of volleyball, tennis, or badminton.

• Mow your lawn with a push mower or an old-fashioned motorless push mower.

• Try new outdoor activities such as rock climbing or canoeing.

• Take your regular exercise routine outside: Do Pilates in the early morning sun, yoga by the light of the moon, or kickboxing at sunset.

• Take your love dancing.

Whatever you decide to do in the great green outdoors, make sure it gets you moving and that you have fun doing it.