Feature Reprinted from the Palisadian-Post | By: Susan Howard, Special to the Holidays in the Palisades, Published on Dec 11,2014
With the holidays ahead and schools out for winter break, it’s time to plan activities to stay fit as a family and enjoy quality moments of movement. Think of exercise as leading an active lifestyle with your kids. Use their creative ways to help you turn every day into an opportunity to get fit and have fun together.
#1 Play Together
What does playtime mean to you? Tumble in the grass or leaves in the park, make snow angels, have snowball fights or build a snowman on the mountain, splash in puddles on the sidewalk, or dance to your favorite song in your backyard. Get on the same level as your young kids with your inner child and play together. It’s a great way to burn a few calories and relive your childhood fun.
#2 Run/Walk Together
Pick a charity walk or run to participate as a family. We live in the world of color runs, bubble runs, Turkey Trots, Palisades 4th of July 5K and even more adventurous Spartan mud runs. Load up the jogging stroller, lace up the sneakers and put on the pedometers. Find an event that will bring charitable meaning to the movement and celebrate healthiness and happiness.
#3 Train Together
Seek out studios that offer multi-age classes for yoga, strength training and dance. From Zumba, Pilates, Barre, martial arts, Spinning to K Training; there are local options to include the whole family.
#4 Pedal Together
Whether your tot’s on a tricycle, riding with training wheels or has graduated to a big kid bicycle; family bike rides can be a fun way to stay fit. Hit the beach path or the mountain trails to bring the beautiful nature into the experience. If your children are older, there are even vacations that you can plan that are build around touring the countryside by bike.
#5 Sport Together
Choose a sport in which everyone can participate. Play it at the park, in the backyard or at the beach. Soccer, tennis, T-ball, flag football, basketball and volleyball are all active sports that can bring the family together and get everyone up and moving at the same time.
#6 Hike Together
Fill up the water bottle, stash a few snacks, grab the backpack and wide brim hat and head for the trails. Combining the beauty of nature and the challenge of the terrain, it’s a guaranteed way to have a little something for everyone with many levels of difficulty to choose from depending on your family’s abilities and age.
#7 Beach Together
No need to go far with the Pacific Ocean as our playground. Grab the paddleboard, surf board, or bucket and pail and head to the beach for an active day of swimming, paddling, surfing or sand castle building. If you are up for it, you can even have a friendly race in the sand.
Spend 30 minutes each day doing something active as a family. Remember, parents are a child’s role model, so if you are having fun and making healthy living important, the kids will follow.
Susan Howard is a Partner and Director of Lifestyle Performance Training at Studio K in Pacific Palisades. Her philosophy of lifestyle performance training is to incorporate all of the functional movements in a creative, efficient program to help individuals train for life. Contact Studio K for more information regarding training and nutrition programs: (310) 454-1048 | susan@studioktraining.com