The American Sports and Fitness Association is encouraging families to start a fitness tradition. Participating in physical activities together can be a great way for families to bond, stay healthy, and have fun. Whether it's taking a walk around the block or playing catch in the backyard, getting the whole family involved in fitness can be a great way to build lifelong memories.
What is the ASFA?
The American Sports and Fitness Association (ASFA) is a leading organization dedicated to helping people of all ages and abilities reach their physical activity goals. ASFA provides members with certified courses in fitness, health, and nutrition as well as certification preparation exams.
The association also promotes a healthy lifestyle by connecting its members with certified professionals who can offer advice on fitness and nutrition. ASFA works to support its members’ success in achieving personal health and wellness through education and resources. Its mission is to provide the necessary tools for individuals and families to achieve an active and healthy lifestyle.
What are the benefits of starting a family fitness tradition?
Starting a family fitness tradition is a great way to get the entire family involved in a healthy lifestyle. There are many benefits to starting a family fitness tradition, including improving overall health and well-being, fostering a sense of camaraderie and teamwork within the family, and providing a way to make physical activity more enjoyable.
When it comes to health and well-being, physical activity can reduce stress and anxiety, improve your overall mood, boost immunity, improve sleep quality, and even reduce the risk of certain diseases. Additionally, research has shown that regularly exercising with family members can help keep everyone motivated and committed to their fitness goals.
In terms of teamwork, physical activity is a great way for family members to bond and build stronger relationships with one another. Family fitness activities can also help to create a stronger sense of community within the family, as it encourages each member to support one another and reach their individual fitness goals together.
Finally, by making physical activity an enjoyable part of family time, you can help to make exercise more enjoyable for everyone. When family members work together to plan out activities that everyone enjoys, it helps to make exercise seem less like a chore and more like an enjoyable bonding experience. This can help to ensure that everyone remains motivated and stays active on a regular basis.
How can I start a family fitness tradition?
Starting a family fitness tradition is easy and rewarding. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
- Set realistic goals: Your family fitness tradition doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming. It could simply be a 10 minute walk around the neighborhood after dinner each night. Or it could be as grand as setting aside a day once a week to visit a local park and explore its trails. Setting realistic goals will help keep everyone motivated and engaged.
- Get everyone involved: Make sure everyone in your family has a say in what type of fitness activities you do. Involve everyone in the decision making process and make sure that everyone enjoys the activity that you choose.
- Make it fun: The best way to ensure that your family fitness tradition sticks is to make it fun for everyone involved. Try playing sports, going for hikes, or even just challenging each other to do silly exercises. Make it an event that everyone looks forward to.
- Mix it up: Keep your family fitness tradition fresh by mixing things up every once in a while. You don't have to do the same activities each time; try something new or switch up the order of your routine.
By following these tips, you can easily create a family fitness tradition that will benefit everyone involved. Not only will it be good for your health, but it will also create lasting memories for years to come!
What are some ideas for family fitness activities?
- Take a family walk around the block: Whether it’s every night after dinner or every Sunday morning, gathering the family and going for a walk together is a great way to get active and spend quality time together.
- Host a family friendly fitness competition: Competing in activities like hula hoop contests, jumping rope contests, wheelbarrow races, and other silly activities can be a great way to get your heart rate up and have fun at the same time.
- Play sports together: Playing games like basketball, soccer, football, or kickball can be a great way to get active and practice teamwork.
- Play outdoor games: Playing games like tag, hide-and-seek, capture the flag, frisbee, and more can be a fun way to stay active and enjoy the outdoors.
- Go swimming: Swimming is a great way to get in cardio without putting too much strain on your body. It can also be a great activity for all ages!
- Set up an obstacle course: You can use whatever you have around the house - chairs, hula hoops, blankets, etc. - to create a unique obstacle course for everyone in the family to try.
- Have a yoga session: Whether you do it with an online tutorial or with an instructor from your community, practicing yoga can be a great way to relax, stretch, and get active at the same time.
No matter what you choose, starting a family fitness tradition is a great way to get active together as a family and have some fun in the process!
