Tips for Making Family Fitness Fun: Guest Post by Jordon Spindler
Sure, we all know that staying fit through regular exercise is critical to our overall health, and to the health of our whole family. No matter what a person’s age, whether they’re young, middle-aged or senior, having a regular routine that gets the heart rate elevated and the muscles toned pays off tremendously. There’s no question that a regular fitness routine helps keep the body at a healthy weight, lowers stress on the joints, and frankly, lowers stress overall. It can also make us feel great!
Getting the Fun Into Fitness
Okay, okay, we know we should all be exercising, but how do we make sure we do it consistently–and get the whole family involved?
More than anything, the key is in making it fun! Having a family fitness routine that’s truly fun turns the work of staying in shape into play, and that’s what it’s all about. So let’s explore a few ways to really transform the laborious activity into an adventure that’s fun and captivating.
Turn on The Music
No matter the activity a family decides to take on, there’s no question that music adds to the positive energy and gets everyone moving fast. Adding a joyful, high-energy music soundtrack to a workout routine — whether it’s indoor cycling, aerobics, or swimming — amps things up and motivates everyone to really keep it moving!
Make a Game of It
Playing games together is a great way to get the whole family feeling fit. Sports like basketball, softball, or touch football are tons of fun and they’re great for children and adults to do together. All these games involve lots of running and hand-eye coordination, so they give the whole body a solid workout. The competitive aspect of playing these sports makes for a lively game that keeps everyone engaged while they’re working up a good sweat.
Yard games like tag, tossing a ball around and playing “chase” are fun family sports for parents to play with younger children. Jumping rope together is another great family workout. Frankly, all these games are so much fun, no one will notice they’ve been exercising—which is really the point of it all.
Go for a Spin
Some fitness regimes, like indoor cycling classes, are ideal for families, as they offer a versatile workout suitable for a wide range of ages. While mom and dad and older teens might set their cycle to a higher level of intensity, grandparents might want to choose a workout level in a lower range. This kind of class can be good for seniors, as they can join the family for a workout yet still stay at their own pace. The low impact aspect of indoor cycling is also great for seniors, as it’s easy on the joints and knees.
No matter the fitness routine a family chooses to practice, the key is to have fun together, and to keep on with it, to really stay fit!
Thank you Jordon for the fantastic article! We really enjoyed it, thank you for sharing your insights!
