Midland Mayor Patrick Payton wants everyone to get out and about for this year's Annual Wellness Tour.
"The 7th Annual Wellness Tour is taking place July 27th through July 31st!" Payton said in his Wednesday, July 7, Facebook post. "This event promotes health and wellness in Midland and encourages healthy behaviors, health awareness and wellness activities throughout the entire week at various locations across the city."
Aerobic exercise benefits physical and mental health.
| FreeImages - Adam Kurzok
The almost week-long health and wellness event is produced by Midland Health, the city of Midland, Keep Midland Beautiful, Midland Independent School District, Midland College and Senior Life Midland.
The Wellness Tour isn't the first effort to encourage people to get out and exercise. The Mayo Clinic points out that regular exercise has a number of benefits, including weight control, improving and preventing various health conditions and diseases, mood and energy boosts, improved sleep and how much fun it is, among others. A British Journal of Sports Medicine study released in June found that physical activity might make up for poor sleep habits.
Another study, this one published in April in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine, found a "bidirectional relationship" between having a sense of purpose in life and physical activity.
The event kicks off on July 27th with the Midland YMCA Experience, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on this day, in which participants can try any group exercise class or workout area, including on the basketball and racquet ball courts, throughout the week.
Other activities through the week include the Zoom-based Blast Class with Fit4Mom Permian Basin, Yoga for Real People with Midland Yoga Works, Wet N' Wild with the Midland Fire Department, Racquet Club Walk with the Midland Walkabout Volkssport Club and Wild Space Wellness with I-20 Wildlife Preserve and Jenna Welch Nature Study Center.
Anyone who would like more information about even more events may visit the Wellness Tour website and click the "Details" option.
The event is looking for volunteers 16 years and older. Anyone interested in volunteering may contact Clarissa Toll at (432) 221-4510