Spring Is Officially Here!

Hey y’all,

Today marks the first day of Spring! And we know longer days and warmer weather are great motivators to be more active. I’m looking forward to the Skagit Valley Tulp Festival, which starts next month, evening strolls with my parents around Seward Park and doing some spring cleaning at home and in the office.

Below are some ideas to get your body moving with Spring finally here!

Spring Cleaning Inside (and Outside)

Spring is a time when many people deep-clean the inside of their homes. The warmer weather makes it an ideal time to clean outside whether it’s your garage, patio, or shed. Especially if you tackle several tasks at once that get your body moving out and about, cleaning your home is an effective, fun, and healthy activity. (Hint: get your kids, partner, or friends involved too!) For example, cleaning and dusting can reduce respiratory issues by removing dust and dander from your home. It can also help improve your concentration by getting rid of unnecessary clutter and junk that’s been on your mind lately! Furthermore, it also reduces hazards like reduced falls with reduced clutter and other items around the house.

Biking, Hiking, or Why Not Both?

We’re so fortunate to live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest because we’re surrounded by nature and all it has to offer! We have Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, and Mount Baker, to name a few. We also have plenty of biking trails, like the Lake Washington Loop, Burke-Gilman Trail, and Mercer Island’s “Hot Lap” within the city. Whether you’re looking for a day trip to escape Seattle or explore it locally, springtime is the perfect reason to come out of hibernation and do something outside your usual activity.

Gardening

Tell me, what is more satisfying than picking flowers or vegetables from your own garden? Gardening not only offers the benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables to enjoy, but there are plenty of health benefits too. When you’re outdoors in the sunshine, it increases your calcium levels (hello, Vitamin D!), which strengthens your bones and immune system. It also has mood-boosting and stress-reducing benefits and can help combat loneliness. Join a gardening community (such as GROW!) to meet new people and help create inclusive gardening communities have access to organic produce. The company of others, in combination with the sun and aerobic exercise, will maximize the benefits of gardening.

Cheers, Tiana

Movement Snack

This week we’re focusing on internal and external rotation from the hips. If you’re a 90’s baby, think of the “Butterfly Dance”! Watch this week’s video HERE!