As family schedules change in the hustle and bustle of a new school year,
parents often take an unintentional vacation from exercise. It's easy to
stay physically active during the long, warm days of summer, when family bike
rides, walks, swims and golf outings and other recreational sports activities
are at their peak. But what happens when the kids return to school?
"Most families experience a big shift when school begins," states
fitness expert Judi Sheppard Missett, founder of Jazzercise. "Schedules
often become much more structured, but parents can use this to their advantage
when it comes to exercise."
Missett offers the following tips for maintaining a regular exercise
program as summer slips into fall.
- Map out the family's weekly schedule, then look for blocks of time when you
can exercise. Perhaps there's an hour or two while the kids are in school. Or
maybe you can coordinate your workouts with their sports practices or
extra-curricular activities.
- Enlist the support/participation of family members. For example, alternate
workout evenings with your spouse. One of you can head to the gym on Mondays
and Wednesdays, the other on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Your kids get quality time
with each parent, and you save the cost of a babysitter. Or, schedule workout
"dates" twice a week when you go to the health club together. Many
fitness facilities offer family activities as well, so everyone can get in on
the action.
- Invest in some home exercise equipment. If you simply can't get away for
your regular workout, Missett suggests having a back-up workout accessible at
home. "Stationary bikes, treadmills, rowing machines and stair climbers
provide great aerobic conditioning," she states. "But fitness videos
are also effective and much less expensive. Add some handweights and a
resistance ball or tube, and you can get a well-rounded workout right at
home."
- Find new exercise partners. When family members are no longer readily
available to join you for exercise, try calling a friend or joining an exercise
class or recreational sports league. It's a great way to get a workout and
expand your social circle!
"Every fall, new and former students return to my Jazzercise
classes," notes Missett. "Not only do they find it works well with
their school-year schedules, it provides a social outlet as the temperatures
begin to drop and people spend more time indoors."
With 4,700+ franchises in all 50 U.S. states and 38 countries,
Jazzercise is the world's largest dance-fitness program. For information on
local classes, call 1(800) FIT-IS-IT or (760) 434-2101.
