Hi, I’m Kathryn, a wife, mom, author, fitness instructor, new resident of Sandestin, and now a contributor to The Stroll! I am excited to be part of the magazine’s team, and my column will bring something a little different each month—health and wellness, historical places and local attractions, a look into holiday traditions, and places of interest both here in Florida and beyond the Sunshine State.

I’ve been teaching fitness classes for nearly 35 years now, and September is always a busy month for gyms, as people return to their routines as summer winds down. I am thrilled that I have recently been hired to teach at the Sandestin Fitness Center, so I decided to dedicate this month to fitness, focusing on low-impact moves that increase your heart rate without putting a lot of pressure on your joints. Of course, there are many popular choices for low-impact cardio, including walking, swimming, and biking. But here are two more to consider:

Jumping jacks sitting on a stability ball—an easy way to work in cardio without impact, since all you need is a large inflated ball! Test for the correct size by sitting on the ball and checking that your knees are about even with your hips. Then start bouncing! Try to get your arms involved: overhead like regular jumping jacks, or crossing in front, or even little circles from your shoulders with arms out to the sides.

Modified squat-thrusts (burpees)—From a standing position, bend down, put your hands on the floor beneath your shoulders, walk one leg out at a time to a plank, walk them back in toward your hands, reaching your arms up as you return to standing.

Reminder—Anyone just starting an exercise program should always consult a doctor first.

I hope to see you at the gym or around the loop—Happy Fall!