Outdoors: Many options to exercise during pandemic

Several mornings a week, I make our dog very happy by taking him for a walk around the neighborhood. Rocky and I walk over bumpy sidewalks and down tree-lined streets, striding past houses big and small, many with rainbows adorning front doors or windows. It is literally a breath of fresh air, a release from the confines of our home.

Study after study has shown the benefits of exercise on physical and mental health. After a week or so of fumbling through the stay-at-home order caused by the coronavirus pandemic, my husband and I buckled down and got more serious about establishing a weekday routine that includes both outdoor and indoor exercise. Added to regular weekend hikes and bike trips (all local), it’s helping us manage the stress or our current situation, and is reminding us to look forward to a time when we can be more active in our usual ways.