Nancy Kahn Scott has been the owner/operator of the My Gym Children’s Fitness Center in Palm Desert, California since 1996. As a hands-on owner, she teaches classes six days a week for children from six weeks to eight years of age. Here, she discusses how cardio-fitness classes can benefit kids as well as adults.
Cardio-fitness isn’t just for adults. Most people are familiar with the many benefits of cardio-vascular exercise, which help to keep our hearts healthy and young. But did you know that regular cardio-exercise can benefit kids as well as grown-ups?
Some reported benefits we know of include:
- Reducing blood pressure
- Assisting in sleep
- Reducing the risk of Type 2 Diabetes
- Strengthening heart and lungs
- Improving moods
But did you know that these benefits are the same for babies and children as they are for adults? Our children need these benefits, which is why at My Gym we believe that regular physical exercise that’s fun is a great way to encourage everyone, from babies up to older children.
With this in mind, we have a program called Cardio Kids, for children aged seven to 13 years old. It’s a fast-paced high-energy class that incorporates a lot of different elements to get kids moving and to get their heart rates up. Children enhance their strength, agility and endurance, while also having a great time.
Cardio Kids involves a lot of running, jumping, sprinting and then resting and doing it again. But we are incorporating games and equipment within the exercises, so it’s really fun for the kids. They don’t necessarily realize that they are exercising, or how hard they are working.
We make it exciting for them. We use a lot of music and a lot of props, keep it fun and as entertaining as possible. Exercise, in an ideal world, should be that way anyway.
Cardio Kids is a great form of exercise for children in this age group. All too often we find that kids this age get preoccupied with sedentary forms of entertainment, such as playing on computers, video games and watching TV. At Cardio Kids, their gross motor skills are really put to the test, and they also learn special nutrition tips to help keep them healthy long after the class is over.
Although Cardio Kids highlights cardio benefits, the fact is that we do cardio in every class for kids at My Gym. There is some heart rate increase in every class we offer, helpingo keep children of all ages healthy and happy.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
