Being physically active is an important component of overall health and contributes significantly to individuals’ physical and mental well-being. There is a continued need to promote physical activity among Kentucky families. According to the CDC, 29.7% of Kentucky’s adults reported that during the past month, they had not participated in any physical activity, and only 21.4% of Kentucky children and teens were physically active for at least 60 minutes per day on each of the 7 days before the survey.

In an effort to promote health and well-being in Kentucky, the Boyle County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences, alongside the Mercer, Lincoln, Garrard, Jessamine, Woodford, and Franklin County Agents, presented the Move Your Way: Exercise for Everybody program.  This program aims to increase daily physical activity among older adults, leading to overall health benefits and increased quality of life, by teaching the importance of physical activity to overall well-being, allowing participants to be active, and showing participants ways to incorporate movement into their daily life.  

20 individuals participated in the program held in Franklin County.  As a result of the program, 100% of participants reported an increased ability to describe the benefits of physical activity to overall health.  100% reported plans to increase the amount of time they are physically active, and 100% plan to use tools from this program to incorporate movement into their daily routine.

After the program, one participant reported, “I enjoy the exercises. They're easy to follow along.”