Hi, my name is Desiree Winkel, owner and founder of Fitness Coaching. Fitness Coaching is a studio/gym where you can work out with professional trainers. Among the workout programs we offer are boot camps, cardio boxing, weight loss training, group training and personal training.
Kids boot-camp has been a feature of Fitness Coaching for a few years now. The children of Sint Maarten do not have many activities like this. Luckily, fitness is trendy on Sint Maarten. The definition of Fitness is “the condition of being physically fit and healthy”. Parents are getting more aware of their health; and more and more I see them making an effort to get their children healthy as well.
The media gives us an overload on what to do to eat healthy and get fit. In the end, it all comes out to the same thing. Move that body and do not eat junk.
Our boot-camp runs for an hour and a half and takes place this Monday, April 22, from 9:00 to 10:30am at Kim Sha beach. It is for kids ranging in age from six to 12 years old. Activities will include having them train their balance skills, tug of war and lots of other very exciting games. We will also have a station where the kids can get their faces painted.
Sign your child up today at our Fitness Coaching office. Do it before Good Friday, April 19.
Keeping kids active is really important
Anyone who’s seen kids on a playground knows that most are naturally physically active and love to move around. But what might not be apparent is that climbing to the top of a slide or swinging from the monkey bars can help lead kids to a lifetime of being active.
As they get older, it can be a challenge for kids to get enough daily activity. This can be due to the following:
-Increasing demands at school
-A feeling among some kids that they aren’t good at sports
-A lack of active role models
-Busy working families
Even if kids have the time and the desire to be active, parents may not feel comfortable letting them freely roam the neighbourhood as kids did generations ago. So their opportunities to be active might be limited. In spite of these barriers, parents can teach a love of physical activity and help kids fit it into their everyday lives. Doing so can set healthy patterns that will last into adulthood.
Benefits of being active
When kids are active, their bodies can do the things they want and need them to do. Why? Because regular exercise provides the following benefits:
-Strong muscles and bones
-Healthy weight
-Decreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes
-Better sleep
-A better outlook on life
Physically active kids are also more likely to be motivated, focused and successful in school; and mastering physical skills builds confidence at every age.
Do what you can to make it easy for your children to exercise by providing transportation and the necessary gear or equipment (including workout clothes). In some cases, the right clothes and shoes might help a shy child feel comfortable biking or going to the gym.
Kids’ fitness personalities
In addition to a child’s age, it’s important to consider his or her fitness personality. Personality traits, genetics and athletic ability combine to influence kids’ attitudes toward participation in sports and other physical activities, particularly as they get older.
Which of these three types best describes your child?
- The nonathletic: This child may lack athletic ability, interest in physical activity, or both.
- The casual athlete: This child is interested in being active but isn’t a star player and is at risk of getting discouraged in a competitive athletic environment.
- The athlete: This child has athletic ability, is committed to a sport or activity, and likely to ramp up practice time and intensity of competition.
If you understand the concepts of temperament and fitness types, you’ll be better able to help your kids find the right activities and get enough exercise and find enjoyment in physical activity. Some kids want to pursue excellence in a sport, while others may be perfectly happy and fit as casual participants.
The athlete, for instance, will want to be on the basketball team, while the casual athlete may just enjoy shooting hoops at the playground or in the driveway. The nonathletic child is likely to need a parent’s help and encouragement to get and stay physically active. That’s why it’s important to encourage kids to remain active even though they aren’t top performers.
Whatever their fitness personality, all kids can be physically fit. A parent’s positive attitude will help a child who’s reluctant to exercise. Be active yourself and support your kids’ interests. If you start this early enough, they’ll come to regard activity as a normal and fun part of your family’s everyday routine.
If you have questions or need more information about Fitness Training, call 524-7700. We are located on Welfare Road, next to North Eastern Insurance, on the first level of the building. Like Fitness Coaching on Facebook or Instagram.
