www.selifestyle.com · JANUARY 2010 · soUTHeAsT Lifestyle 3 f Home Again, Home Again Jiggity-Jog! f by Denise H. Osborne, AIDP, IDS inding time for yourself is key to staying healthy, and one way to start that New Year's resolution is to create your own personal gym right in the comfort of your home. This can range from just open space to a full room of equipment. With a little bit of planning and budgeting, you can transform a space you can call your own. Many experts say that you need to determine your fitness goals and figure out what type of exercise that you would like to do. You also will need to determine where you want to work out and be able clear out an area to stretch out in. It is important to pick a room that you will want to spend time in. Do you like to watch television or listen to music? Finding the right technology to occupy your mind while you exercise is important as well. You will tend to exercise longer. See if you can mount that DVD player or CD player on the wall or up off the floor to allow more floor space to work out on. Maybe you would like to consider a small MP3 player or iPod. If you can budget for a wall of mirrors, that would be helpful. Watching yourself allows you to check out your as well, from several aspects. One is whether you like to run and are prone to sweating, and another is the noise factor. Some type of cushion or mat can deaden the sound. You might want to consider carpet tiles since they can be easy to replace, should they become damaged. If you are building a home, also look at insulating behind the drywall to hide the noise. Consider making your space a sanctuary by adding pictures of family or favorite places...anything that keeps you motivated. Every public or private gym knows that after the holidays, many people want to join as part of a new year's resolution. But by March, a large number of people stop going and working out. I say, find something you can stick to. If you enjoy it, chances are you will work at it and stay at it longer. Let's take the year 2010, and start finding the time to enjoy some healthy living! Happy New Year! u Denise H. Osborne owns Accessory Design Services in Pleasant Garden, NC. She works with clients to improve their spaces, both residentially and commercially. For more information, please contact at 674-2150 or go online to www.AccessoryDesignServices.com form, but also adds to the feeling of space in the room. Add some overhead lighting or try to locate a space where natural light comes in and, depending on the type of exercise, you can effect temperature changes by the type of lighting installed. You could also consider putting, on the wall opposite of the mirrors, a mural of your favorite place, like the beach. The choice of flooring is important Way to go Nathanael Greene Elementary! The student council at Nathanael Greene Elementary School encouraged participation in the Kids, Cans & Ca$h Recycle Challenge. The school was notified that a total of 818 pounds of cans had been collected. Students at the school collected more than any other school in Guilford County!