Get Fit with Ayla

by Ayla Riggle

Ayla Riggle is an Everett resident and owner of Thrive Fitness, providing customized fitness programs for all fitness levels.  Certified by the American Council on Exercise as a Personal Fitness trainer, she provides personal training in home, at Anytime Fitness in Lake Stevens and outdoor fitness boot camps. For more information on Ayla and her services, visit www.thrivefitness.info.

Making fitness a family affair will improve the physical and emotional health of your family, creating a chance to bond and enjoy each other--something that many families, unfortunately, are hard pressed to do.

It is tough finding time for personal fitness, let alone including children in the mix. However, by creating a fun fitness atmosphere for the family, there will actually be more time to get other things done, because rather than dividing personal fitness from family time, you are essentially getting two things done at once.

With the rising epidemic of childhood obesity, and a lunchbox of health problems associated with sedentary lives and poor nutrition, it's time to take a detour and change the course of the health for the family and generations to come. Depending on the age group of your family, there are a variety of activities that are engaging, fun and promote teamwork and camaraderie as a bonus.

Varying activities offer different levels of participation, skill and fitness. Some of the basics, suitable for nearly every age, include cycling, walking, hiking and swimming, all of which are heart-healthy aerobic and endurance activities. Aerobic activity improves heart and lung health, blood circulation, blood pressure, reduces stress and promotes fat burning.

For the family looking for a little more adventure, try indoor rock climbing to hone your skills, then head to one of the many surrounding mountains for the real deal. There are guided climbing classes available as well. Local outfitters include Everett's Vertical World. Rock climbing involves aerobic and muscle strength to scale the walls. Training in an indoor gym will improve full body strength, with an emphasis on legs and core. Surprisingly, arms really don't do much of the climbing work, but will receive strengthening benefits as well.

Adding a little healthy competition with outdoor sports can take parents back to their nostalgic high school years and are an opportunity to teach good sportsmanship, team work and skills. Many outdoor sports are stop-start activities that involve sprinting, reacting quickly and running, all of which promote aerobic and fat burning benefits. Some sports to try include tennis, two-hand touch football and volleyball.

Fitness at its core should be an enjoyable lifestyle that promotes a healthy body, mind and family. By making it a family affair, you instill healthy habits and attitudes in children and create an environment conducive to bonding and building relationships with each other. Take advantage of activities for all age groups that offer an active respite from stressful days...no cable subscription required.