MOSCOW, ID – A University of Idaho Extension initiative encouraging daily physical activity is gaining attention across the country. The program, known as Five for Five: Five Minutes to Better Health, was introduced in 2022 by a team of seven Extension educators as a simple, accessible way to improve both focus and fitness.
The approach centers on five minutes of structured movement each day, with one minute dedicated to each of the following: mindfulness, cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance and bone strengthening, muscular strength, and flexibility and balance. Exercises are outlined through color-coded cards or posters with instructions and illustrations, designed to be easy to follow in classrooms, workplaces, and at home.
According to program co-author Shelly Johnson, feedback has consistently emphasized its simplicity. “The feedback we’ve received from folks who are using it is, first off, how easy it is to include it in a given day,” she said.
The program is already in use in Idaho, Utah, Virginia, Arkansas, Kansas, and North Carolina, and has proven especially effective among teachers and youth leaders. University of Idaho Extension staff will present Five for Five later this month at the 2025 Joint agInnovation and Cooperative Extension Meeting in St. Louis.
Lead authors Kirstin Jensen and Johnson, both with backgrounds in health and nutrition, developed the program alongside other Extension educators across the state. Adaptive versions of the exercises are available for participants with mobility challenges, ensuring broader accessibility.
Five for Five has earned recognition through awards such as the Educational Curriculum Package Award from the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences and the University of Idaho Extension’s Excellence in Extension Award. Discussions are also underway with Idaho education officials about incorporating the program into public school curriculum.
Supporters say the program reinforces healthy habits and encourages longer workouts over time. “What Five for Five is really about is showing folks they can do it, and not only can they do it, but they can do it well and have fun,” Johnson said.
