Exercise

Like all first-Mondays-of-the-month that don't come with New Year's hangovers, today's comes with a simple, gentle one-minute Way to improve your health. Get up! C'mon, you can read standing up. By the time you finish reading this, you're done with the first rep of today's healthy exercise.

I was thinking about the totally weird and beautiful skyline of New Mexico's Tent Rocks while I walked down the suddenly deserted Park Avenue canyon last week. The wind chill was below zero. I was the only human. A landscape I take for granted became a new world. I wonder if the Cochiti Indians notice these Tent Rocks.

This place is so spectacularly beautiful you should eat your organic smoothies, tacos and ice cream outdoors. While you stare at the dramatically close mountains and waterfalls. if you came for the pot, you should stay for the walk.

If three wild months and 1,000 tortured miles on the Pacific Crest Trail isn't your speed, here's a lovely walk for you. Around Benedict's Pond. About the same size as Walden Pond, but not nearly so famous. Connects with the Appalachian Trail.

Parks are peaceful. So no surprise when a walk in the park delivers a sense of calm. But it's surprising how quickly it delivers. And how little green it takes to improve your physical and mental health. Better and Cheaper than prescription drugs. Not necessarily Slower. Click for the best deal ever on the great outdoors.

Want to burn 900 calories an hour? Snowshoe up a really steep mountain. Want to burn another 600? Snowshoe back down.