TIPS: Healthier You, Healthier Planet
Over the holidays, one topic that came up in conversation several times is the green movement and the cultural shift toward enviro-consciousness. No matter where each of us stands politically, there are simple things we can all do to be more socially responsible vis-à-vis the planet. My good friend Sharon King Hoge is the editor of Verdant, a new magazine that can be summed up by its tagline: “Smarter choices for better living.” She and I had an interesting discussion about what businesses are doing to be more environmentally conscious. It left me thinking about the simple things that we can do as individuals to be more responsible to the planet and ourselves at the same time. Here are a few things we can all do, and most of them have fitness benefits:

1.) Walk more. This is the simplest way to make a difference. Walk to the end of the driveway to get your mail or pick up your paper. Consider ways to run your errands afoot. If you must drive, park in a central location and walk to the various stops on your list. Avoid escalators, moving sidewalks and elevators when possible. When you do drive somewhere, don’t waste time and energy circling the lot looking for the closest parking spot.

2.) Buy local produce. Or better yet, grow your own. Gardening is a great activity to keep you moving and using your muscles. It is also the best way to know how your food is grown. If you don’t have the space or time to garden, consider buying local produce to cut down on the pollution of transportation and to support local farmers. LocalHarvest.org is an excellent resource for finding growers and farm stands in your region.

3.) Bring your own bags. If you haven’t already, it’s time to invest in four to six canvass bags to keep in your trunk for trips to the market. As much as cutting down on waste, I am motivated to do this because I really hate all of those flimsy plastic grocery bags piling up under the kitchen sink.

4.) Plant a tree. If you do the digging and moving yourself or with a partner, you will surly get a hefty workout. It’s estimated that a single tree will absorb one ton of carbon monoxide over its lifetime. Visit Arborday.org for more information and local resources.

Top: More backcountry skiing with Simon near Ashcroft, Colorado. Living in such a pristine place motivates me to think about our surroundings and what I can do to keep them beautiful. Center: Gardening at Weatherstone. Does this qualify as a yoga? Bottom: Walking the dog, or in this case throwing the disc for Floozie, is a satisfying way to keep moving.