Q. What is Fit for Motion that is offered in some elementary schools?
A. Fit for Motion is a program that the Rowan County YMCA, in partnership with Rowan Regional Medical Center and Food Lion, is running in almost all elementary schools second-grade classes.
As everyone knows, obesity has become an epidemic. Lots of organizations and businesses such as Rowan Regional Medical Center, Food Lion, the Rowan County YMCA, Salisbury Pediatrics, and the Rowan County Health Department, just to name a few, are trying to find a way to help our community and our children to fight obesity.
We understand that when we wait until they are in middle and high school we have missed the boat for most children. The children, and lots of times their parents, are living an unhealthy lifestyle which is not impossible, but a lot harder to break when they are older.
Fit for Motion is focusing on second-graders and their parents. It is an educational program that teaches the children nutrition, basic anatomy and physiology, and the children perform activities like jump rope, Yoga, Zumba, and sports.
It is held once a week for about 25 minutes during school hours, but it does not take away from their learning time. During the school year, we have quarterly family nights at the YMCA.
Last Thursday, we had our family night at the YMCA and the kids, parents and all of us had a blast. The children came and we started with a cardio kick-box/ bootcamp workout of about 15 minutes and after that they went to our indoor climbing wall, Xrkade, and our big inflatable. The parents had a workshop about issues related to obesity. From my experience, and from talking to the kids, this program is a great success.
Hopefully, after this year we can offer it to all Rowan County elementary schools, at least all second-graders. But, as we all know, it is all about funding. I do think at the end of this school year, we will find that this program is successful, and with the wonderful support we already have received from this community, and hopefully with grants, we can offer this to everyone.
Wouldn’t that be wonderful? I am pleased to see Hurley Elementary School, where my son Andrew goes, is trying to take the children and have them move any chance they get. I know that I learn a lot better when I get to exercise.
It is recommended to exercise at least 30 minutes per day most days of the week. If we teach children to be active, don’t you think we have a better chance they will live a healthy and active lifestyle than when they wait to exercise until they are adults? Let’s get ourselves, our children and this community active.
Please mark Sunday, May 1, on your calendars. We have a great community event called the Buck Hurley Triathlon. Besides, our two distance events, we have three kids triathlons that day. Nine- to 11-year-olds do 100 yards in the pool, 2 miles on a bike and a 1-mile run. Seven- to 8-year-olds will do 50 yards in the pool, 1 mile on a bike and a half-mile run. For the little ones, 4- to 6-year-olds, competition includes a 25-yard swim, half a mile on a bike and a 1/6-mile run. Floaties, training wheels and help from parents are allowed.
The Salisbury Police department, Salisbury and Locke fire departments, Salisbury Parks and Recreation, the City of Salisbury and the YMCA all come together to make this a healthier, more active community. Isn’t that wonderful?
Next week: Tips on how to get ready for the triathlon,
Ester Marsh, ACSM Cpt
Associate Executive and Health and Fitness Director JF Hurley Family YMCA.