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Fun-tastic Family Fitness
4 Fabulous Ways to Exercise Together
By C.J. Johnson
In Kokomo, Ind., fitness enthusiasts have taken a new approach to exercise for the entire family – family yoga. "Parents and children share a mat, which helps the adults supervise their kids and make sure they are in the proper position for each given exercise," says Kim Coy, owner of Powerhouse Gym & Family Fitness.
Throughout the session the teacher tailors her instructions so each member of the family, including the children. "The instructor uses a lot of animal poses to communicate with the kids so that they are able to understand what they need to do in the class," Coy says. "She uses terms that even very young children can understand."
On any given night of the class, there are six to 10 families in attendance. Because it creates a positive foundation for all family members to use as they begin to incorporate exercise into their lives, this class has been a success with gym members. "Parents have one-on-one, quality time with their child, as well as getting workout time," Coy says. "We are hoping that the class will help teach kids that exercise is fun and that it will remind parents to involve their children in exercise at an early age."
More adventurous families may want to take their quest for fitness on the road and plan an extreme vacation. "Each family member should be able to plan a physical activity, whether it be taking a walking tour of a city, playing volleyball, kayaking, white water rafting, snorkeling, skiing or snow boarding, hiking a trail or climbing a summit," Calabrese says.
Prior to the adventure, family members should take time to build up endurance, strength and the skills necessary to safely enjoy the activity. The vacation can be lengthy and extravagant. It can also be nothing more than a day trip. Just remember to make family fun and activity the priority.