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Diane and Barry Morash look like an advertisement for mid-life togetherness as they stride along the Peggy's Cove Road. The Glen Haven, NS, couple has been married for 43 years and walking together for 35. Walking has kept them fit and been good for their marriage. "When our two daughters were young, walking gave us time for ourselves," says Diane, who, along with her husband, is now in her early 60s and has never belonged to a gym. "I think it keeps us close."

Diane walks about 45 minutes a day while Barry, who is retired, walks a total of 90 minutes. The couple walk quickly. "It's better than strolling. You get more exercise," Diane says, adding that she likes walking in the country. "I feel safe here in our own community. We know a lot of people."

Whether you live in a rural or urban community, walking-especially speedy walking-is a good way to keep fit. Barry and Diane are among the 29 per cent of people in communities of fewer than 1,000 residents who are active for at least an hour every day. That compares to 37 per cent in larger centres (more than 300,000). In small communities, 22 per cent of residents are totally inactive compared with 12 per cent in urban areas. These numbers are from the 1999 Physical Activity Monitor, conducted by the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute.

It can be hard to keep fit in rural areas, agrees Mary Russell, director of community health at Capital Health in Halifax. "There are often not as many facilities or as much programming. It can be hard to walk because there are no sidewalks or bike paths. Every area has its challenges."

Upping the physical activity level in this part of the country is essential. The Atlantic provinces have an obesity rate of 25 to 29 per cent-one of the highest in the country, according to Statistics Canada. Obesity and poor nutrition lead to chronic diseases and exact a high human and financial toll.

Ennui is one of the biggest barriers to exercise. "People get bored and quit," says Tynan Thacker, manager of health, fitness and recreation at the Cumberland YMCA in Amherst, NS. "My job is to come up with new classes and activities." Membership fees are subsidized. "No-one is ever turned away," Thacker says.

Being a family-oriented club in a town of 10,000, Amherst's YMCA aims to be all things to all people. Programs for seniors range from cardio workouts to line-dancing. "We have programs that help seniors socialize as well as work out. For a lot of seniors, it's their only opportunity to chat with people."

The YMCA experiences a lot of demand for boot camps (high-intensity cardio workout classes.) "Forty and 50-year-olds like them," Thacker says. "This age group has been working out for years and they want to keep challenging themselves."

Kids also need to be kept stimulated with new activities, says popular physical education teacher Albert Jollymore, who is based in St. Margaret's Bay, NS. "I teach a lot of non-traditional sports," he says. "They stimulate creativity. Changing the program keeps the kids' interest. If someone doesn't like what we're doing, they know we'll be moving on."

The long distances between homes and schools can make it hard for rural youth to take part in after-school activities, says Karen MacTavish, community development director for Halifax Regional Municipality. Part-time jobs also impact on the time available for exercise.
Personality type is another influence on exercise preference and commitment. Numerous studies have suggested that if you're an aggressive go-getter you'll be happy in a martial arts or extreme aerobics class. Introverts prefer walking and yoga. These studies may be over-simplifying human nature, but it's undoubtedly true that people need an exercise routine that suits them…

And a place that suits them. "In October, we opened a women's-only workout room," says Thacker. "Hopefully, it'll appeal to women who feel uncomfortable working out with men or younger women." She adds that losing weight often increases people's confidence and makes them more comfortable in an exercise class. 

The benefits of exercise are not only physical. Research shows that exercise alleviates problems such as depression. Amherst's YMCA hosts the local mental health group, Take Charge of Your Mood. "I myself suffer from depression and being physically active helps keep my endorphins up," Thacker says.

 

Jollymore also values the mental health benefits of exercise. "When kids get fitter, you see a liveliness, a change in attitude. Sport teaches honesty, co-operation and respect," he says. "I think it's important, no matter your age, to make health deposits. The healthier you are, the more you can give to the people around you."

 

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