National estimates of physical inactivity highlight the large numbers of racial and ethnic minority groups participating in little or no physical activity (McElroy, 2002). Despite numerous studies using correlational, prospective, and experimental designs, the literature remains inconclusive regarding which variables relate to physical activity behavior change (Masse, Dassa, Gauvin, Giles-Corti, & Motl, 2002). In a review of 25 physical activity intervention studies and 45 physical activity correlational studies, Baranowski, Anderson, and Carmack (1998) advocate the use of qualitative methods to refine our understanding of influences on physical activity. The purpose of this study was to identify influences on physical activity that can be applied in interventions tailored to the adoption and maintenance of physical activity in adult African American women. Co-participants included 12 African American women currently living and working in Philadelphia, PA. A descriptive qualitative design was used to gain insight into the dynamics underlying influences on physical activity. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and an analysis of interview data using grounded theory (Strauss & Corbin, 1998) was employed. Based on the results of this study, the following eight conclusions were drawn. First, individual influences on physical activity include: (a) personal identity, (b) childhood activity, (c) love of the game, (d) health, (e) physical ability, and (f) perspectives of exercise. Second, social environmental influences include: (a) roles and responsibilities, (b) support, (c) culture, (d) media, (e) aerobic fitness genre, and (e) economics. Third, physical environmental influences include: (a) neighborhood characteristics, (b) facilities, and (c) weather. Fourth, influences of attitude include: (a) attitude toward exercise, (b) intentions to function, (c) determination, (d) I can’t, and (e) mood. Fifth, influences of attention include: (a) misconceptions of task at hand and (b) distractions. Sixth, influences of action include: (a) task and skill balance, (b) goals, (c) purpose, and (d) feedback. Seventh, influences of adherence include: (a) frustration with lack of results and (b) consistency and change. Eighth, strategies for promoting change include: (a) individual strategies, (b) facilitator strategies, and (c) environmental strategies. This research increased the available knowledge on factors that affect the adoption and maintenance of physical activity in adult African American women by offering a detailed description of each co-participant's experiences with physical activity. The results suggest that programming efforts directed at changes in physical activity levels of adult African American women acknowledge the complexity and multifactorial nature of the influences on physical activity identified in this study.