Family Fitness
Everyone should know how important physical fitness is to their overall health. According to the Mayo Clinic, physical fitness can reduce your risk of chronic disease, improve your balance and coordination, help you lose weight and even boost your self-esteem.
If you’re like me, home all day with a toddler and a pre-schooler, exercise comes easy. I am plenty active, chasing, carrying, reaching, stretching…and how about the 35 trips up and down the stairs each time someone needs something? This was my excuse for far too long.
Before having kids, I was really disciplined, belonged to gyms and walked every day on my lunch hour. Since becoming a mom, other than yoga and occasional walking, I have not made cardio or strength-training a part of my daily life. When I started a formal exercise routine this past year, I felt like a new person. My clothes fit better, I felt stronger, I had more energy and I was proud of myself for setting a goal and reaching it. (I ran a 10k on June 13, 2009!)
If you can make exercise a priority in your life, your children will take notice. Be a good role model and show them how regular workouts can benefit them. I know my children need an outlet for their energy, and if they don’t get exercise every single day, they are more aggressive towards family members and they act more cranky and high-strung.
In the past, we’ve joined a local health and fitness center that offers just as many programs for kids as adults! I would work-out alone when I needed a much-needed break, or we would take classes together such as tumbling, yoga or swimming. I feel good about showing my kids that exercise is important to me. When we go to the gym, it’s fun, uplifting and everyone burns off their excess energy. We all go home tired but feeling great and ready to take on the rest of the day.
If you don’t belong to a gym, there are plenty of options for getting out and being active. Kids love to play – get out and play with them! Run around the bases of a ballfield, chase a dog down the beach, fly a kite, roll around in your backyard, have a dance party in your living room, ride a bicycle, go for a nature walk, visit various area playgrounds….the possibilities are endless!
For all of The PranaMama’s posts on fitness, click HERE!
Livestrong.com: Lance Armstrong’s organization promoting health, wellness and fitness. This site offers medical information, tools for diet, nutrition, weight loss and training, as well as forums for discussion with others with similar interests and goals.
Mapmyrun.com and Myfastfeet.com: Two great sites for measuring distance, finding outdoor routes and keeping track of multiple workouts. Great for runners, walkers, cyclists, hikers, etc.
Runner’s World: Great site for inspirational quotes, advice from professional trainers and ideas to keep your workouts fun and challenging.
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STAY TUNED FOR THE EXPANSION OF THIS PAGE TO INCLUDE TIPS, ADVICE, RESOURCES, REFERENCES AND LINKS TO MY FAVORITE FITNESS PROGRAMS AND TOOLS.
