Exercise may not immediately come to mind when you think of things that make your heart go a flutter but it’s one of the healthiest love affairs you can have.

It pushes you to be a better version of yourself, gives you the confidence to tackle any obstacle, helps you de-stress and rejuvenate and constantly reminds you that your body is amazing.

Sure exercise leaves you sweaty, winded, and maybe even a little sore, but that’s no reason to close your heart to exercise.

To celebrate our love for fitness, I asked a variety of people male, female, young and old to share why they couldn’t imagine their lives without a sweaty gym session, a restoring run, an upbeat fitness class or a demanding hour of yoga. Get inspiration from these individuals’ reasons why exercise is good for the spirit, great for the body, and could be one of the best parts of their day.

“I exercise to maintain my weight and combat stress. Plus I just feel so good when I’m done and it gives me more energy.” — Katie

“I never finish a workout and say, ‘gee, wish I hadn’t done that.’” — Amy

“Exercise is my diet pill, sleeping pill and happy pill. No doctors or prescriptions needed.” — Brooke

“I exercise because it makes me feel great. I also enjoy the classes the most and enjoy the interaction with the other people in the class. It is fun to exercise with people who have some of the same interests as me. I feel everyone at the Y is very professional and helpful and good at what they do. I do a lot of the high impact classes, but enjoy Zumba as well. Zumba makes you smile and you forget you are exercising.” — Sandy

“It gives me energy and makes me feel better about myself. It is a way to lose weight and/or keep it under control. Some days, it is the only couple of hours I have to myself without the kids. It is a habit. I like step aerobics and body sculpt because they fit into my schedule, but it also the type of exercise I have truly enjoyed for most of my life. Wendy makes us work hard too and I like that.” — Jodi

“I have a million reasons as to why I exercise. I work full time, am a wife and a mother of two beautiful little girls, and life can be crazy at times. Exercise serves as a stress release and is my “me time.” I don’t feel guilty about taking the time to take care of myself. It also serves as “girl” time for me because I often swim, bike or run with friends and we use that time to keep each other motivated and striving to do our best.” — Nicole

“I exercise because it makes me a better person. I feel better both physically and mentally when I exercise regularly. I do kickboxing if I am worked out the day before and I’m sore. It motivates me to get a good work out and I can let off some steam.” — Johnathan

“The routines of physical activity in my life make me happy. Funny how that mind-body-spirit thing really works. Mental health is all about engaging in life, having a sense of purpose, experiencing positive emotions, accomplishments and relationships. When I think about what running, biking, yoga, Tai Chi, stretching, walking, etc. have given me, I realize that these “practices” have given me wellness in it’s fullest sense. When engaged in physical activity I experience joy, I can be out in nature, share the experience with others and feel great when the workout is finished or the training for a long race is complete. With aging, new ways to stay engaged in exercise routines have brought challenges and novelty that renew my interest and commitment to creating my health. Loved thinking about this…a good thing to do once in awhile.” — Kay

“I exercise for many reasons. It is good for the physical body a great energy booster and it is also is good for the mind. I try to keep some muscle tone, stamina and balance to avoid injuries as I age. It relieves stress, burns calories and can be a social event. There is no down side to exercising it is all good.” — Julie

“I exercise so I can be healthy, fit and in shape. (Along with deciding to push myself to do road races and triathlons) I enjoy taking the classes at the Y because it pushes me and I also get to meet new people.” — Nicole

“I started an exercise program after I got hurt and sat around for many years. I use to play softball and volleyball so I replace it with weight training and cardio.” — Kevin

As you just read everyone had many different reasons that they love to exercise and the benefits that they receive from it. I hope that it will inspire you to incorporate it into your life. Come visit us at the Y and get started or improve on your exercise routine.