For the last post of the "creation" phase, I thought it would be good to figure out five ways to make exercising more eco-friendly. So many of us go to the city gym to work out on a treadmill, listening to our i-pod, and reading a magazine, while glancing back and forth at "What Not to Wear" on the flatscreen overhead. You know what I'm talking about. But what is the impact on the environment? Here are five ways to change your exercise life, and maybe even enjoy it a bit more.

1. Outdoor activities: Once a week, try doing some form of outdoor exercise… be in nature. Either jog through your neighborhood, go for a bike ride, take a hike, or do some other activity that you enjoy that has no carbon emissions.

2. Eco-Gym: If you actually enjoy running on a treadmill at a gym, which I would venture to guess most of you do to stay fit (not out of pure enjoyment), join an eco--friendly gym. Some gyms are going completely green now, using the energy created by people running and using cycles to actually power the gym. This ends up saving enormous amounts of energy over the course of a year.

3. Yoga: Yoga is the hot topic right now in exercise. More and more people are picking it up. The small town I live near (that is too small to have a full grocery store), has not one, but two yoga studios! What is all the hype about? Yoga is relaxing, rejuvinating, and helps you maintain a good physical form. If you can, I would recommend doing a yoga video to start with at home with a friend or family member. But if you have a studio near you, that can be a good option too.

4. Dancing: Dancing is another fun way to get exercise without going to a gym that completely drains the area of all electricity. Join a dance class that teaches something formal like the waltz, or something fun like salsa.

5. Home: Finally, as I have stated before, it is best not to expend the gas to go to and from the gym, and it is often more convenient to exercise at home. Utilize what you have around the house (and your own body) to exercise at home through simple activities: sit ups, push ups, stairs, lunges, crunches, stretching, etc.