Pick up know-how for tackling diseases, pests and weeds.
Farm bill, farm marketing, agribusiness webinars, & farm policy.
Find tactics for healthy livestock and sound forages.
Scheduling and methods of irrigation.
Explore our Extension locations around the state.
Commercial row crop production in Arkansas.
Agriculture weed management resources.
Use virtual and real tools to improve critical calculations for farms and ranches.
Learn to ID forages and more.
Explore our research locations around the state.
Get the latest research results from our county agents.
Our programs include aquaculture, diagnostics, and energy conservation.
Keep our food, fiber and fuel supplies safe from disaster.
Private, Commercial & Non-commercial training and education.
Specialty crops including turfgrass, vegetables, fruits, and ornamentals.
Find educational resources and get youth engaged in agriculture.
Gaining garden smarts and sharing skills.
Creating beauty in and around the home.
Maintenance calendar, and best practices.
Coaxing the best produce from asparagus to zucchini.
What’s wrong with my plants? The clinic can help.
Featured trees, vines, shrubs and flowers.
Ask our experts plant, animal, or insect questions.
Enjoying the sweet fruits of your labor.
Herbs, native plants, & reference desk QA.
Growing together from youth to maturity.
Crapemyrtles, hydrangeas, hort glossary, and weed ID databases.
Get beekeeping, honey production, and class information.
Grow a pollinator-friendly garden.
Schedule these timely events on your gardening calendar.
Equipping individuals to lead organizations, communities, and regions.
Guiding communities and regions toward vibrant and sustainable futures.
Guiding entrepreneurs from concept to profit.
Position your business to compete for government contracts.
Find trends, opportunities and impacts.
Providing unbiased information to enable educated votes on critical issues.
Increase your knowledge of public issues & get involved.
Research-based connection to government and policy issues.
Support Arkansas local food initiatives.
Read about our efforts.
Preparing for and recovering from disasters.
Licensing for forestry and wildlife professionals.
Preserving water quality and quantity.
Cleaner air for healthier living.
Firewood & bioenergy resources.
Managing a complex forest ecosystem.
Read about nature across Arkansas and the U.S.
Learn to manage wildlife on your land.
Soil quality and its use here in Arkansas.
Learn to ID unwanted plant and animal visitors.
Timely updates from our specialists.
Eating right and staying healthy.
Ensuring safe meals.
Take charge of your well-being.
Cooking with Arkansas foods.
Making the most of your money.
Making sound choices for families and ourselves.
Nurturing our future.
Get tips for food, fitness, finance, and more!
Understanding aging and its effects.
Giving back to the community.
Managing safely when disaster strikes.
Listen to our latest episode!
Melody Curtis Arkansas Extension Homemakers Phone: 501-671-2012Fax: 501-671-2323Email: mcurtis@uada.edu
by Nancy Hightower - September 1, 2021
It’s no secret that an important part of a healthy lifestyle is physical activity. There's a lot of information and different workouts available on the web, and it can be overwhelming. If you're looking to introduce regular exercise into your routine, you may be looking to keep it simple and fun.
It’s recommended that you get at least 150 minutes a week of aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening activity twice a week. Aerobic activity is anything that gets your heart beating faster. Muscle strengthening activities make your muscles work harder than they usual do.
Extension Health Specialist, Dr. Bryan Mader says, “Especially for older adults, multicomponent physical activity—activity that combines aerobic, muscle strengthening, and balance training—can improve physical function and reduce the risk of injury from falls. These activities can be done individually at home or in a structured group setting. It is also important to remember that all activities, whether light, moderate, or vigorous intensity, help to meet the key physical activity guidelines and help to maintain a healthy body weight.”
These recommendations may be minimal, but they can seem so hard to achieve. It can be helpful to remind ourselves of why physical activity is important and how it can help us feel better. For instance, physical activity improves your quality of life by helping brain function, reducing stress and risk of developing diseases, strengthening your body, and improving sleep. Even when we remind ourselves of the purpose, it can still be hard to remain motivated sometimes.
How do we turn physical activity into something we enjoy doing instead of viewing it as a chore?
By making it easy! Here are some tips to make exercise easy and fun:
You can also check in with your county extension offices to see if they offer any fitness programs. Currently, Walk Across Arkansas can be a great way to have fun while getting active.
Walk Across Arkansas is a free, team-based, 8-week physical activity program. Teams set physical activities goals and encourage one another to reach them through some friendly competition. It is not limited to walking. You can partake in any physical activity that increases your heartrate or makes you break a sweat. EHC is offering district traveling trophies to the winning EHC teams.
Learn more about Walk Across Arkansas here!
Some excellent places to walk can be community parks, walking trails, and state parks in your county and surrounding areas.
Whatever it is you decide to do, have fun getting physically active!