Staying Active While Staying at Home by Patrick Wade, KT Staff Writer
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www.americankinesiology.org Page 17 Staying Active While Staying At Home By Patrick Wade, KT Staff Writer t is tough to get moving when you are with resources to keep their children active about their bodies. Children learn about Iordered to stay at home, but with mil- at home, Kuhrasch said. And while par- balance by being on a bike, for example. lions of Americans sequestered during ents may feel a lot of pressure to fill those Physical movement enhances cognitive the COVID-19 global pandemic, it may be voids, they do not necessarily need to be learning, she said. There is also a strong more important now than ever to stay active. a teacher for their kids – just a playmate. social component to play. By playing with Of course, that means you might have to “Just talk to your kids about it and play with a friend, brother, sister or parent, you can modify your workout a bit, but kinesiologists them,” Kuhrasch said. “Enter the activity as add a social component to physical activ- say that staying active through challenging a playmate instead of having this weight ity at home. times is important for everyone’s physical on your shoulders as a teacher.” Staying active is important for adults and mental well-being. Kuhrasch has tried to assist in this pro- too. The physical benefits are obvious, but That is especially true for children who cess by posting a series of “P.E. At Home” the mental health benefits are also hugely get a majority of their activity from physical videos on YouTube. They cover topics such important while lives are being significantly education classes and after-school sports. as batting a balloon back and forth with disrupted.“Humans were built to move,” “I think they’re going through the same a partner, striking bubbles with a flyswat- said John Mercer, professor and acting thing we’re going through. Maybe a little ter, and playing a classic game of 500 by chair of the Department of Kinesiology more magnified for them because they’re throwing a ball up on the roof and catching it and Nutrition Sciences at the University of kids,” said Cindy Kuhrasch the Physical when it rolls off. “We’re so limited right now Nevada, Las Vegas. “So continuing to move Education Teacher Program Coordinator because we’re all just having to be home during the stay-at-home recommendations in the Department of Kinesiology at the with each other,” Kuhrasch said. “But I do is important.” With many gyms and fitness University of Wisconsin-Madison. think that incorporating play into our time centers closed during the pandemic, that Kuhrasch said that kids’ lives have been together is going to reduce some of this can be difficult. shrunk down to one area – their homes. anxiety we’re feeling and this cabin fever.” “Fortunately, there are a lot of creative They are probably missing their friends, The games Kuhrasch recommends are ways that I am seeing people use to be missing their teachers, missing their church not simply intended to be playful – they active while following the social distance communities and missing their coaches. have an educational purpose. Kids are concept,” Mercer said. “People are access- “It’s just like everyone else,” Kuhrasch said. kinesthetic learners, she says, and the ing YouTube exercise routine videos, sharing For physical educators, trainers and movement during play helps them enter a exercise ideas on social media platforms, coaches, it is important to provide parents three-dimensional space where they learn and fitness gyms are offering online exercise Kinesiology Today Spring 2020 Volume 13, No. 2 www.americankinesiology.org Page 18 classes that you do in your home. There are Mercer said. “Exercise can play a role in also different software programs like Zwift providing that structure.” and Rouvy that allow cyclists to connect The benefits of physical activity are well- their indoor bike trainers to the internet in documented, and he says there are a lot of a way that people can train and race each online resources with ideas to get people other – but while in their own home.” moving inside their homes. “I see people The changes in workout routines for many being creative and using cans of food or may be a disruption to their social interac- bottles of water for weights,” he said. “Any tions. Working out with a friend, walking with type of movement that you can do for even a group of people or going to a yoga class 10 minutes that increases how fast your may be a big piece of someone’s day that heart is beating is good physical activity.” has been eliminated. But there are some It is important to remember that the interesting tech-based solutions there as exercise does not need to be extremely well – web-based platforms like Strava and hard and physically exhausting. It is more Garmin Connect help users share their important to get regular physical activity workouts with a social group. “Programs throughout the week, Mercer said, instead like these are in essence Facebook for of trying to be a “weekend warrior” and only Cindy Kuhrasch, the Physical Education Teacher endurance athletes and can be helpful to exercising hard for one or two days per Program Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin- stay motivated to exercise,” Mercer said. week. This could also be an opportunity Madison, is shown in one of her YouTube videos demonstrating a game she calls “Backward Hang- One of the unique aspects of the to try something new or try something for man.” Kuhrasch has published a series of videos COVID-19 pandemic is how quickly it has which you previously did not have the time. depicting games that children can play at home to changed our lives, Mercer said. In just a “Many people who were regularly exer- stay active while schools are closed. matter of weeks, people are now working cising are struggling to find the motivation The American College of Sport Medicine remotely or have lost their jobs. Some may to continue with exercise now that their goal (ACSM), a leading authority on exercise, have left their jobs to take care of children event has been cancelled or postponed,” has provided some ideas about how to who cannot go to school. In a rapidly chang- Mercer said. “It is important that these exercise at home. ing world, exercise may offer some mental people take the time to recover from their relief and maybe a distraction from the regular training plan and recalibrate their https://www.acsm.org/read-research/ news. “Regular schedules have changed approach to regular exercise.” newsroom/news-releases/news- so rapidly for so many – it is important to PE At Home YouTube videos: detail/2020/03/16/staying-physically- recalibrate and create a sense structure,” http://bit.ly/PEathome active-during-covid-19-pandemic Kinesiology Today Spring 2020 Volume 13, No. 2.