May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
COVID-19 has changed our lives, and it can be stressful. One of the best ways to alleviate that stress is to do physical activity. Our sports are cancelled, but there are plenty of things we can do to stay active while social distancing. I have been running, walking, and biking in my neighborhood, making sure to get out of the way when I see people coming from the other direction. If you don’t feel comfortable outside, you can do indoor activities, such as yoga or dancing. Overdrive has a collection of workout videos  that are always available to download onto your computer, tablet, or phone. You can also check out their collection of fitness magazines.
Getting started with a new exercise routine can seem overwhelming at first, but the top takeaways from the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans from the US Department of Health and Human Services state that any amount of physical activity has some health benefits, and that physical activity has immediate health benefits. Take a look at this Physical Wellness Checklist, and once you get going, you can use these tools to track your activities.*
Here are some books about fitness and exercise on Overdrive to give you some inspiration:
4-Minute Fit: The Metabolism Accelerator for the Time Crunched, Deskbound, and Stressed-Out
by Siphiwe Baleka and Jon Wertheim
Anatomy, Stretching & Training for Yoga: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting the Most from Your Yoga Practice
by Amy Aumanand Lisa Purcell
Born to Run
by Christopher McDougall
Breathing for Warriors: Master Your Breath to Unlock More Strength, Greater Endurance, Sharper Precision, Faster Recovery, and an Unshakable Inner Game
by Belisa Vranich and Brian Sabin
Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance
by Alex Hutchinson
Just Ride: A Radically Practical Guide to Riding Your Bike
by Grant Petersen
No Sweat: How the Simple Science of Motivation Can Bring You a Lifetime of Fitness
by Michelle Sega
The RBG Workout: How She Stays Strong . . . and You Can Too!
by Bryant Johnson
The Runner’s World Big Book of Running for Beginners: Lose Weight, Get Fit, and Have Fun
by Jennifer Van Allen and Bart Yasso
Running Is My Therapy: Relieve Stress and Anxiety, Fight Depression, and Live Happier
by Scott Douglas
Running Past Fifty: Advice and Inspiration for Senior Runners
by Gail Waesche Kislevitz
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running: A Memoir
by Haruki Murakami
*You should consult your physician or other health care professional before starting a fitness program to determine if it is right for you.