Public Health Advocate Develops Novel Fitness Program to Help Adults Ease-In to Exercise, So They’ll Stick With it

(New York, N.Y. January 2013).

We all know exercise is good for us, but less than half of American adults get enough of it. Mirabai Holland, a public health advocate and 25-year veteran of the fitness industry, is on a mission to change that. Holland, Director of Fitness and Wellness programs at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan, has developed a novel exercise program that people "ease into," going at their own pace, so they're more likely to stick with it.

Despite the benefits of regular exercise, a report from the American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine says physical inactivity remains a pressing public health issue(1). Holland agrees. “When starting out, most people have every good intention of sticking with an exercise routine to get in shape or lose weight,” says Holland, who lost 40 pounds on her own program. “However, they often get frustrated because it’s either too difficult or not tailored to their specific needs.”

Exercise is important for people of all ages, from the very young to the very old, Holland says. “Research shows that engaging in regular physical activity promotes good health. It reduces the risk for a number of chronic diseases and premature death. Exercise also provides a feel-good, psychological boost.”

Holland’s experience led her to develop a novel exercise program she says anyone can do by allowing them to ease into it, going at their own pace. The Moving Free® Ease-In program, newly released on DVD, is geared toward people who have never exercised, have been physically inactive for an extended period, or have tried unsuccessfully to develop a fitness habit in the past. The Ease-In program is also available as part of an on-line fitness club membership.

“My goal was to put together a work-out that is not work, disconnecting the pain from the gain,” she says. “When people embark on routines that are too difficult or --more-- Public Health Advocate Develops Novel Fitness Program – p. 2 require them to do too much too soon, it sets them up for disappointment. It can also put them at risk for an injury or muscle aches, further hampering their efforts.”

Holland’s video allows people to start slowly and advance when they’re ready. As such, the DVD contains six individual workouts, starting with a five-minute warm-up, moving up to 10 minutes of mild exercises, then 15 minutes, and so on. Going at their own pace, people gradually work up to a full half-hour workout that includes a warm-up, aerobic exercise, strength training and cool down.

“The Ease-In method is an excellent way for people to become more physically fit in a safe and rewarding manner,” says Dr. Geoffrey Westrich, an orthopedic surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. “Any program that motivates people to exercise and enjoy what they’re doing is going to have a lasting impact on their health.”

Once people feel comfortable with the Ease-In program, Holland hopes they’ll add physical activities or move on to more advanced exercise videos to make fitness a way of life. The Ease-In program is available on DVD packaged with a beginners’ latex exercise band for $24.95 and also as part of an on-line fitness club membership, in which people can access the videos 24 hours a day. Holland says the on-line membership is an excellent option for people who spend a lot of time on the Internet. They can get their exercise without leaving their computer – they click, they’re on, they’re doing it. More information on the program, as well as exercise tips and articles, are available at the Web site: www.mirabaiholland.com