April 2 Is National Walking Day

Exercise doesn't have to be hard. No, really!

This April 2, the American Heart Association encourages us all to get moving toward a healthier lifestyle on National Walking Day. Wear your comfy shoes to work and take a walk! It's that simple. 30 minutes of your day, which can easily be broken into 15-minute increments, can get you on a path to better health. Celebrate by walking with your friends, family or co-workers.

Take a pledge to walk on April 2 and find more tips for heart healthy living at the official National Walking Day website. The library has many additional resources to keep you motivated and help you get more movement into your life.

Leslie Sansone made walking for fitness famous. Check out some of her popular DVDs and see if they work for you. Start! Walking at Home is a great place for beginners looking for gentle exercises.

If you're looking to drop a few pounds, try reading Walk your Butt Off! for detailed fitness and nutrition plans. Walking sounds simple enough, but expert guidance will help you achieve your goals faster and push you past plateaus.

Are you worried your kids aren't moving enough? The series Super Simple Exercise gives families with children in kindergarten through third grade some easy ideas to get your kids exercising indoors and out. Each book in the series, such as Super Simple Throw & Catch, includes games that can be made with household items, and each one has a sample "Move It Chart" that can be replicated to keep your little ones on track.

After this long, cold winter, I can't think of anything better than going outside for a nice walk. My sneakers have been woefully neglected.  Hope to see you out there on April 2!