YW_Sanda_Issue_4

exercise
34 wellness
Children In The Gym?
By Jasmin Waldmann
I’m sometimes asked what can
be done to tackle the problem of
rising obesity in children. Parents
also want to know when is the
earliest that children can start
working out.
All healthy children should
move and indulge in physical
activity. They can do a lot to
remain fit. They could play
badminton or tennis, jog, play
cricket and football, enjoy bicycling
etc. This is true for children below
the age of 12.
However, playing is not the
same as working out. When we
talk of intense workouts, it is
advisable for children to start at
the age of 16, not before that.
Most gyms, too, forbid under
16-children to work out in the
gym. There’s a good reason why:
The skeleton, till that age, is still in
the process of building up.
From 12 years onwards, I advise
frequent and planned workouts
for cardiovascular system and
strength-endurance. This means
they could do, under supervision,
any kind of cardio training and
also lift light weights. As to what
is light is something that a child
can decide for himself. What is
important is for the parents to
listen to the child, and not let him
exhaust himself. It is good to have
some resting period in between the
workout. This helps the process of
recovery. If your child says at any
point that he doesn’t want to work
out, listen to him. He will need to
learn to listen to his body, as the
body tells him exactly when it is
time to take a break.
I also suggest that parents
should not ‘outsource’ all the
physical activities for the kids.
Why not bring the family together,
or create father-son, fatherdaughter,
mother-daughter,
mother-son fitness activities? A
client of mine does that with his
three sons, spending time with
them separately. Other than the
obvious fitness benefits, it creates
a wonderful bonding experience
for the father and the sons. I would
highly advise everyone to do this
frequently, e.g. once a week for
two to three hours. This will help
your children stay healthy. It’s
good for the children’s mind too.
Movement creates happiness; this
is true for both adults and children.
When you exercise, endorphins or
happiness hormones are released
and you feel cheerful afterwards.
And if this is done with someone
you love and care for, the effects
on the mind and body are even
better.
Jasmin Waldmann is an
international Mind & Body
Transformation Expert.
She is the author of the book
‘Change Me’. Visit
www.jasminwaldmann.com
to know more. Book available on
amazon.
yourwellness.com