Group Helps People Exercise Outdoors

01From VOA Learning English, this is the Health and Lifestyle Report.

02In Edmonton, Alberta, the sun had yet to come up.

03The temperature was more than 20 degrees below zero.

04In the dark and cold, Tannis Smith was ready to run up and down hundreds of stairs among the trees in the Saskatchewan River Valley.

05And Smith was not alone.

06Ten people joined her for the activity.

07All were wearing several layers of clothing to keep warm.

08You're pretty much just putting everything you own on, said Smith, an accountant.

09If you look at the pictures, you don't know who you are unless you remember what you were wearing.

10Since that winter, back in 2013, Smith has rarely missed a workout with a group called November Project.

11November Project is a network of free outdoor group exercise classes that started in Boston, Massachusetts.

12No matter the weather, members get out of bed before sunrise at least once a week and go outdoors for group exercise.

13November Project is part exercise, part fun, and part community.

14It is a model for exercising outdoors, especially in the winter.

15It started in 2011 when two friends agreed to exercise every morning for the month of November.

16They were looking for accountability and motivation to help them stick to an exercise routine.

17By the end of that first month, they had invited others to join them.

18Soon, their meetings were bringing in almost 40 people.

19And it became a year-round project.

20A party is better when there's more people around.

21We would talk to anybody who would listen, said Boyin Mandarich.

22He created the project with friend Brogan Graham.

23Then, as people moved to other cities, they took the idea with them.

24So, the November Project grew.

25Now, there are 52 groups in 8 countries, including 44 in the United States and Canada.

26People of all ages and fitness levels join the workouts.

27Some groups begin with something called the bounce.

28They chant and jump at the same time to bring the group together.

29Those who feel inhibited do not have to do this.

30Most classes include running and body weight exercises, like squats.

31The project also uses the surroundings of the location.

32So, for example, some places include running up steps in an outdoor sports stadium.

33Currently, in D.C., members meet on Wednesdays to run up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

34To keep the workouts fun, they also might include fun games and activities from childhood.

35In Edmonton, they play snow games in winter and water games in summer.

36The games help to lower inhibitions.

37This helps people make connections, said Jason Shaw.

38He is co-leader of the Indianapolis, Indiana group.

39Nobody is cool at November Project, he said.

40Shaw said groups recognize members' milestones.

41People can earn prizes for reaching different goals.

42To find out if a November Project group is near you, go to their website at november-project.com.

43Building community and making friends is another big part of the project.

44So, each group is active on social media.

45If you do not have a November Project nearby, you can find another type of outdoor exercise group.

46Or start your own.

47The November Project organizers offer a few suggestions on how to work out during colder months.

48Find workout friends.

49At the center of the project is accountability.

50Members promise to show up.

51There is a sense of letting down your teammates if you do not show up, says Mandaric, who moved to Boston from Serbia to row crew for Northeastern University.

52Rowing crew is a type of boat racing.

53Invest in some cold weather clothing.

54There is no such thing as bad weather.

55Just bad clothing, said Shaw, the leader from Indianapolis.

56He suggests wearing clothing next to your skin that removes sweat.

57This will help keep you warm and dry.

58Avoid cotton, he warned.

59It keeps sweat in contact with your body.

60And will make you colder.

61Also, add a top layer that protects against bad weather.

62On its webpage, the November Project leaders for Washington, D.C.

63say workouts are not canceled for weather.

64Promise yourself to exercise on the same days and times for a month.

65Create a routine.

66This will make it easier to stick to an exercise routine, says Mandaric.

67And make sure to have fun.

68Exercise does not have to be hard or serious.

69Smith, the member from Edmonton, Alberta, says she enjoys the social part of the November Project the most.

70She calls it a chosen family.

71They came together because they had fun exercising.

72She said, you can have fun and get fit.

73And that's the Health and Lifestyle Report.

74I'm Ana Mateo.

75I'm Ana Mateo.

76I'm Ana Mateo.

77I'm