Fitness for Families
by Arnold Geignert
http://www.fitmefitness.com
These days it is difficult enough to find time for personal
fitness so the thought of exercising as a family seems
impossible. Everybody follows such tight schedules that it
becomes extremely difficult to find a time for the entire
family to meet together. . .let alone exercise together.
But it is not impossible and here is how you can make it
work.
1. Identify the time required for other essential
activities. Use a calendar to keep track of all
priorities like school, office, and other fixed and firm
activities. These cannot be changed except for holidays
or if something unexpected comes up. Check out the times
left--like a free evening during the week or a
morning. Ask each family member if any of those times suit
them.
2. Come up with fitness activities that the whole
family enjoys. Some possibilities are hiking, jogging,
swimming, volleyball or any other activity that lends
itself to activity and interaction. Not only do you stay
fit, you also bond as a family by sharing the experience.
Make a list of several options. Ask everyone to vote on
them, so activities are selected which most members in the
family enjoy doing. Make sure that everyone gets to do
an activity they like by alternating the time spent on
various fitness activities over time.
3. Family members will likely have varied needs or limits
that need to be considered when planning an activity.
Make accomodations for differences in age, size, strength,
endurance, and skill. Try to create a win-win where those
who can do more are allowed to while those who need to
do less rest or move to an alternate activity. Plan each
fitness activity in a way that is challenging and fun for
all, but not overwhelming for anyone.
4. Do not be too strict about family fitness time. Do not
turn it into a competition where losing makes one feel
disheartened. Keep it flexible and rearrange schedules
when required to make family fitness time convenient for
everyone. If someone cannot make it on a particular day,
the rest of the family can go ahead with the exercise.
This way family fitness time remains casual and fun.
Family fitness time provides great opportunities for
getting fit or maintaining fitness, spending time
together, and having fun. If you don~t already enjoy
fitness activities as a family, this may be the time to
start a tradition. Not only will everyone get fitter, the
kids maydevelop life-long fitness routines that they will
pass down to their children and grandchildren. Parents
can likewise enjoy good fitness into the golden years of
their lives.
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