Exercising and physical fitness are extremely important facets to your personal health. A healthy diet is only half of the battle which is why it’s essential to find sports and activities you like in order to keep your body in shipshape. Whether it be biking, or swimming that is your preferred method of exercise, Long Island has many free and inexpensive ways to aid you on your journey to health.

With May being Physical Fitness and Sports Month there just couldn’t be a better enough time to jump start on your path toward physical fitness. The weather is finally nice enough for outdoor physical activity and that provides many options when it comes to exercise. No excuses though! Even when there’s bad weather there are still plenty of ways to get your physical fitness in for the day.

Walking and Hiking: Who wouldn’t want to be outside during the beautiful month of May? Walking and hiking are two great ways to get you outside, get you active, and give your wallet a break, all at the same time! Lace up your sneakers and take a walk around your neighborhood or local school track. Join a walking or running club to get you motivated and moving with friends. If hiking is more your speed there are many scenic hiking trails available to the public to choose from. Don’t forget to bring a healthy snack along with you to enjoy after. You deserve it!

Swimming: Swimming is a wonderfully fun, and effective, way to workout. Swimming works all of your major muscle groups and the water resistance helps to build strength. Swimming is also a great choice for those with physical limitations and those who experience pain during other exercise regimes. Swimming goes easy on your body while also working it out very hard. Don’t fret if you don’t have a swimming pool of your own, there are many public swimming pools you can visit to take a dip in, both outdoor and indoor swimming facilities.

Bicycling: Biking is another great way to start getting physically fit this month. Bicycling works out your leg muscles, builds stamina, and improves muscle tone. Bicycling also has many benefits in addition to the physical fitness benefits. Biking can save you a lot of money, and the environment, if your commute to work is close enough by opting to take the bike instead of the car. In addition, if you don’t personally enjoy solitary exercise and prefer group exercise consider joining one of the many bicycle clubs on Long Island.

Skating: Skating is yet another incredibly fun and exhilarating form of exercise you can choose to boost your health. Long Island has both roller skating rinks and ice skating rinks to pick from, perfect for a rainy day when you can’t get outside for exercise. The best part of all is you’ll be so busy having a ball you’ll completely forget the fact that what you’re doing is even considered exercise!