Routine exercise is widely regarded as one of the best ways for people to stay healthy year-round. In addition to its many physical benefits, an active lifestyle and outdoor activities are effective ways for individuals to strengthen both their mood and their immune system. Lancaster Moves, an outdoor fitness program created by Samantha and Andrew Gerberich of Willow Street, seeks to offer Lancaster County residents an opportunity to reap the rewards of outdoor exercise while simultaneously bringing the community closer together.

"You can't replace getting together with people and being outdoors," Samantha said. "Fresh air has so many benefits: boosting energy and mood, decreasing stress and getting Vitamin D from the sun."

Lancaster Moves will launch its first series of events on Saturday, April 6, at Strasburg Jaycee Park, 218B Miller St. The kickoff will begin at 9 a.m., and it will include an hour of cardio exercises and bodyweight workouts designed to suit participants of all fitness levels. Additional sessions will be held on Saturdays, April 13 and 27, at Village Park, 800 Village Road, Lancaster. All April sessions will be free to attend.

Samantha and Andrew's decision to create Lancaster Moves was partially influenced by the couple's shared passion for working out. Samantha works full time as a nurse, and Andrew's career is in the accounting world; in their free time, the husband and wife participate in fitness programs at their local gym. Since their gym primarily offers indoor activities, Samantha and Andrew often workout in their own backyard, and they started to consider ways they could establish a consistent program for the whole community. In addition to their active lifestyle, Samantha and Andrew both have educational backgrounds in fitness; Samantha has an undergraduate degree in kinesiology, and Andrew studied sports management in college. Andrew also has several years of experience as both an athlete and a coach.

Samantha and Andrew were also inspired to create Lancaster Moves as a way to honor Andrew's late grandfather, Charles Gerberich Sr. Charles joined the Lebanon YMCA through its scholarship program in 1937, and he actively volunteered to teach after-school programs there for many years. Charles also frequently covered membership fees for children whose families could not afford them. Samantha and Andrew plan to donate 10% of all profits from future Lancaster Moves programs to YMCA youth scholarship funds. "Andrew has this vision to give back, and we're hoping to carry on his father's legacy," Samantha said. "Our goal is to continue to offer outdoor sessions at different locations throughout the county."

For more information, visit http://www.lancmoves.com or email info@lancmoves.com.