Staying Active & Healthy
Our “Good News” begins with sunshine and warm temperatures on a Friday! The weekend is here and we’re putting health and fitness on top of the agenda! Social distancing -- especially on grey and cold days -- can lead to sedentary practices and disheartened spirits. We need the opposite to be true!
People who incorporate exercise and physical activities into their daily life are healthier AND happier. This Spring, Ambassadors and Alumni aren’t in their usual routines like team sports, physical education classes, group fitness, and visits to the gym. But, there are countless resources that can motivate, teach, and engage
First up, some important perspective. The Center for Disease Control recommends that pre-school aged children get activity throughout the day, and youth ages 6 -- 17 commit to 60 minutes or more of physical activity. The American Council on Exercise offers some pro tips:
Partner up! And, turn your living room or back yard into your fitness playground.
Keep it social. Schedule video workouts with a friend or family member -- stay in touch and get fit simultaneously!
Start a new habit. Use this time to learn a new sport, skill, or activity. Start slow, build a foundation, and grow from there.
Have fun! Laugh, dance, enjoy...just move!
Across town and around the world, fitness instructors, gyms, and wellness organizations want to ensure we reap the mental, emotional and physical benefits of physical activity. They’ve “gone virtual” with creative solutions to keeping us moving while we’re at home. We thank these wellness leaders for their passion, generosity, and expertise!
1. When Salt Shack Crossfit of Hanover had to close their doors, they opened their hearts. Taking care for their clients to the next level. They distributed their equipment to members for at-home workouts, post online classes, and offer nutrition encouragement, too. And through it all, stay true to their motto: “Focus on what you can do, rather than what you can’t do!”
2. Leaping the Atlantic to Spain, we’re inspired by the passion of Trainer Gonzalo of Sano Sevilla Los Bermejales, who broadcast his mission for fitness from his apartment’s roof deck. Trainer invites those on neighboring roof decks and balconies to join him for sessions of jumping jacks, squats, and cardio -- all while providing motivational encouragement. According to Gonzalo, "No matter how adverse the circumstances are, we’re going to make the best of it." Watch the video here.
3. The YMCA has been at the heart of our communities for over a century, so it's no surprise that in a time of crisis, the Y inspires! One of their core beliefs is, “When we are safer together, we are stronger together.” In response to COVID-19, the YMCA of Greater Boston launched “Stronger Together” -- an online hub of free workout videos hosted by certified Y trainers. From yoga to cardio to strength and conditioning, it’s all here: https://ymcaboston.org/stronger-together
4. Strong bodies, strong minds, strong spirits. A focus on mental health is critically important during this time of uncertainty, dislocation, and new norms. Headspace, a meditation app and website, provides compassionate guidance for meditation, sleep, and movements through a free series titled “weathering the storm”: https://www.headspace.com/covid-19
So, carpe diem! Seize the day! Embrace the sunshine and walk, run, bike, or move in any way that brings you joy!