Each year, the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition encourages all Americans to #MoveInMay. Why? Because May is National Physical Fitness & Sports Month!   

Do you know exactly how beneficial exercise is?     

Exercise is not only useful for achieving that ‘bikini body,’ but it is more effective than many medications for conditions such as: Heart Disease, Inflammation, Depression, Anxiety, Type II Diabetes, Arthritis, Back Pain, Cold & Flu, and more.  Our friends at Tufts and Harvard agree, exercise is remarkably effective at alleviating some of the most common health conditions.  But there’s more.  As our life spans increase, exercise allows you to not simply survive into old age, but at generating a long healthspan that allows you to physically and mentally thrive as you age.

Why is exercise so good for so many things?

It’s simple – our bodies were made to move!  One of the hallmark features of vertebrate organisms, like humans, is movement.  Movement allows us to avoid pain and increase pleasure.  Movement was the bedrock of our ancestor hunter and gatherer communities.  The better and more effectively they could move, the better chance they had for a happy and healthy life.

The virtue of movement is in our DNA.  Our body thrives when it moves. As result, your body releases a cascade of endorphins when you move to reward you for moving and to encourage you to keep up the habit of moving.

Interestingly, movement is becoming a Movement in it’s own right.  There are a number of emerging leaders in the Movement world on YouTube and Instagram that are making waves and formulating a lifestyle that celebrates the virtue and value of a movement-centric lifestyle.

Have fun.

By far, the most important aspect of a quality, long-term relationship with exercise is that you make it fun for you.  This helps assure that you will keep up the habit long term.  This can be represented in many ways.  Instead of running alone, run with a friend that makes you laugh and smile.  Instead of having a serious, grueling session at the gym, go play outside and work up a sweat at a park or jungle gym.  Need some more inspiration?   The fine folk at VeryWell Fit have got you covered.

One of the classic ways to have fun and exercise at the same time…dance! Dancing to your favorite music and with friends that make you smile is a surefire way to experience a quality exercise that not only strengthens your body, but enriches your life.

However you choose to do it, make sure you move this May!  To help you out, we’ve curated 20 of our favorite songs to help you move and groove ?