Dog owners will be the first to tell you that their beloved furball is more than just a pet to them — in many ways, it’s like a child. There’s a good reason for this. Dogs have their own unique personalities, traits, and quirks. They thrive under routines. And they are capable of loyalty and love beyond most people’s expectations.

It shouldn't be a surprise that dogs are good for your health, and there are several fun ways to work out with them.

If you’re looking for a fun fitness form that engages your entire body — and your mind! — look no further than dancing.

Dancing is one of the best heart-pumping ways to torch calories while simultaneously improving muscle tone, strength, balance, core strength, and joint health. Plus, your mind stays engaged and sharp as it learns choreography and keeps pace with the steps.

What’s more: This well-rounded, full-body workout is actually fun! Time flies as you whirl around and step to the beats, ensuring you’re not staring at the clock and watching the minutes tick by until the workout ends.

Ready to give it a shot?

You know that exercise is essential, with countless studies showcasing how it can improve everything from heart health to immunity, skin vitality, and more. But if you’re getting on in life, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed any movement becomes a bit more difficult the older you get — whether you’ve ever been an avid exerciser or not.

The reality is that while you should always strive to make exercise an integral part of your life, it’s going to look different at various stages in your life — and that’s more than okay.

We're here to help you figure out what type of exercise might be appropriate for you to try!

Exercising at any time of day can go a long way toward boosting your physical and mental health. However, a recent study found that people who worked out in the morning, specifically between 7 and 9 a.m. tended to be thinner than those who exercised later in the day.

Could the time of day you fit in your fitness really make a difference?

When you think about how many steps you need to take in a day to be healthy, what’s the number that immediately comes to mind? There’s a solid chance it’s 10,000.

That’s because 10,000 steps a day has become the fitness industry baseline for living a healthy lifestyle. After all, it’s the default setting for most pedometers and fitness trackers, and a simple internet search will yield thousands of articles on the topic.

But is that number, which generally equates to about 5 miles daily, really based on science?

Creating a healthy lifestyle is about many things. It’s about a consistent diet with balanced nutrition. It’s about staying active and exercising. It’s about ensuring your mental well-being. And it’s about keeping your brain active and engaged.

Need a little help keeping that mind sharp, engaged, and present in the moment?  Read on!

Exercising can sometimes feel intimidating, especially when you go to a gym and see what looks like elite athletes pumping weights or pounding out mile after mile on the treadmill.

It’s okay. We get it. And you are certainly not alone. Thankfully, exercising can take place anywhere, anytime, and in all sorts of fun formats.

Remember when it was just before the new year, and you were highly motivated to lose weight and get healthy?

Between balancing things like work, kids, social events, and everything in between, our hectic schedules often mean there’s not much time left for self-care or healthy habits, and that resolution might have fallen to the wayside.

But here’s the thing: Taking care of yourself ensures everything, and everyone else will get the best, most productive version of yourself.

How do you make taking care of yourself a priority again though?

You did it. You committed to your health and fitness and signed up for a gym membership. And now, it’s time to step into that world of weights and cardio machines for the first time. It can feel pretty darn intimidating. That’s more than okay. It’s a brand new situation, and doing anything for the first time can be nerve-wracking.

Thankfully, the gym is actually a place you can have fun and spend time — you just have to set yourself up for success before showing up for the first time.

You've heard it before, and you'll hear it again; physical activity is crucial to controlling your weight, gaining healthful benefits, and expanding your lifespan. 

A recent study found that physical activity was associated with a lower risk of death for women. By participating in daily activity of any intensity, a woman could lengthen her expected lifetime. Fitness guru, Dr. Gabe Mirkin tells us "You do not need to have a specific exercise program to stay fit, you just need to keep on moving for a large part of each day.” That’s good news if you’re not a big fan of what we traditionally associate with exercise.

So, what can you do to make sure you can keep your body in motion each and every day? We have 8 simple ideas for you! (Men, you can do these things, too!)

Controlling both your mind and body are two things that can work wonders toward improving your overall health and weight loss efforts. And yoga is a highly effective way to get that control.

Yoga combines breathing and meditation (mind) with movement (body) to boost various elements of your health, including flexibility, endurance, strength, inner peace and well-being. Yoga is practiced by millions of people and the varieties and forms of the practice is growing. You can try out for mediation, fitness, spirituality and, of course, fun!

Work your way down our list of 10 different yoga types! You're sure to find the perfect yoga workout.

You’ve probably heard how critical a well-rounded diet and consistent cardiovascular activity are to prolonging your life. And yes, those things are essential — and just as essential is incorporating resistance training into your routine. That’s because muscles naturally tend to lose strength as you get older; effects you can counter by doing things like lifting weights and using resistance bands.

We gathered 5 extremely effective resistance exercises for middle-aged folks and seniors. Do these at least a few times a week to work towards adding years to your life!

If you’re looking for a low-impact workout that gets your heart rate up while simultaneously giving you the chance to build connections with like-minded people, then water aerobics may be the thing for you.

We put together a comprehensive guide to this fun, engaging fitness activity that is just the thing for anyone with limited mobility and those who love the pool!

Many of us spend most of our day craning our necks to look at our computer screens, tablets or mobile devices. That unfortunate but necessary trend has caused a whole host of posture problems, which in turn can cause chronic neck pain and tension, particularly as we age.

Thankfully, a mixture of strengthening exercises and stretching can work wonders towards alleviating these issues.

It’s no secret that regular exercise can significantly improve your overall well-being and support you in achieving your weight loss goals. We hear a lot about the benefits of having a routine, being consistent, and creating habits that become a part of your lifestyle. 

But your body can become too used to the routine too... mixing it up is imperative to create a well-rounded fitness plan that will keep your body (and mind!) challenged and engaged. Spring is the perfect time to refresh your fitness routine by changing up just a few things.

For many, the convenience and availability afforded by virtual workouts makes fitness more accessible and makes it easier to stay committed. For others, group classes or the gym are more in sync with their needs.

There are pros and cons for both virtual and in person fitness plans. All things should be considered, but which of these factors mean the most to you?

The years 2020 and 2021 forever changed the scope of the fitness world. The closures of non-essential businesses and stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic brought with them dramatic changes in how people exercised — and many of those changes are here to stay.

It's time to take a look at the direction fitness is going in 2022. These trends may just give you some new ideas for how to take on your own exercise routines and achieve your goals for healthy living!

If any of the people on your holiday shopping list have expressed interest in fitness in recent months, or the intention to get into it in the coming year, a fitness-themed gift may be just the thing to show how much you care.

Need some help with those gift ideas? Everything from gift cards to stability balls to hydration tools and more are included on our 10 favorite gifts for fitness beginners for $40 or less. Take a peek!

Walking is a great way to get in some activity. It’s an easy, accessible, free activity that can get your heart rate up and have the potential to keep your body healthier longer.

That said, walking at a leisurely pace is unlikely to get results.
While any movement is better than no movement, walking rapidly does a whole lot more for your overall fitness levels.

So, you’re ready to start a cardio routine, but you're not really sure where to begin?

That’s okay! Cardio can be tailored to fit your health needs through low-impact or high-impact exercises — the key is finding which is right for you. As always, be sure to consult your doctor before beginning a cardio routine to learn if you have any limitations or medical conditions that may prevent you from engaging in certain activities.

To help you find a bit of fitness inspiration, we've put together a list of 10 low-impact cardio exercises and 10 high-impact cardio exercises aimed to help you burn calories, improve stamina, sleep and heart health, boost energy and even reduce the risk of getting certain diseases!