Community Magazine July 2014

82 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE Shaatra Does It FRANCES HADDAD SHAATRA: Getting Fit With Your Family Fitness is a hot topic these days, and summertime offers several opportunities for yourself and your brood to get in shape. Sunset (and bedtime) gets later, and children grab this chance to run outdoors until the stars come out. Your kids might have no problem moving, but after a long winter of running the household, exercisemaybe your last pursuit during this break you’ve been waiting for. The fact is that just thinking about treadmills or weight-trainingcanmake someShaatra moms Charley horse! But here’s a little secret: common summertime activities offer easy ways to get fit. With all the fun you and your children will be having, you’ll completely forget that you’re actually involved in exercise. When your kids get home from camp and nightfall is hours away, make family time into fitness time. With the right activities, you and your children will reap the bountiful benefits that exercise has to offer, including higher energy levels, weight loss and elevated mood, to name just a few. And it’s almost impossible to say “no” when you can gain the rewards without exerting the effort that the traditional workout normally entails. Walk the Boardwalk Walking may seem too simplistic to count as exercise, but it’s been hailed as a prime low-impact physical activity and a key to living a healthier life. If you are blessed enough to have two feet, you can incorporate walking into your fitness regimen. Send in your tips for the next edition Back to School mobile: Scan the QR code at right online: go.CommunityM.com/ask email: Ask@CommunityM.com facsimile: 718-504-4246 postal mail: 1616 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11223 When camp ends for the day, pack your kids into the car and head to the boardwalk, or double exercise time if you live within walking distance of the beach. If the sun’s still beating down, be sure to fortify yourself and family with sunscreen and water bottles for a safe walk. Though you may enjoy being out in the sunlight, remember that the closer it gets to sunset, the emptier the beach will be. This is a bonus since the environment will be appropriate for your family. When walking, focus on your posture and be sure to take purposeful steps for the most effective workout. Chat with your kids, take in the sights and sounds of the ocean, and you’ll have walked the boardwalk before you know it. Bike the Distance The bikes have been collecting dust in the garage all winter, and now’s the perfect time to take them for a spin. All children, from teenagers to toddlers, can enjoy a bike ride, which makes this the ideal family activity. If you’re wondering what to do with babies who have not yet mastered the art of riding with training wheels, ride with them securely fastened in a carrier attached to your own bike. It’s best to do a family bike ride on a day that your husband (or another adult, like grandma) is available, so you can have two pairs of watchful eyes surveying the children as they ride beside you. Just be sure to lay down the law before you embark on your biking trip: everyone must stay on the sidewalk (ride in a public park with a bike trail to prevent this rule from being broken), and everyone must wear helmets! Water Aerobics If you’ve ever thought of becoming a fitness instructor, this is the time to turn your dream into reality. If you have an in-ground pool (a baby pool will also work), you can do aerobics in the water and let your kids follow along. If you don’t have a pool, put on the sprinklers and do your favorite moves as you run through the water. Tell your kids to follow suit. You can even have your kids take over and see what moves they come up with. Bench Press with Baby If you have a baby at home, then while the older kids are at camp tr y “bench press with baby” to strengthen your arms and core. Pick up the baby, stand straight and tighten your stomach. Lift the baby in the air above your head. Then bring the baby down towards your face, and plant a kiss on his or her forehead. Lift the baby and bring down towards you again. Repeat until the baby needs a nap. Summertime really does offer lots of chances to get in shape. Enjoy these moments with your children, and reap the fitness benefits that summer activities have to offer, and your body will thank you. R E A D E R S T I P S D uring summer, I tend to my garden with my children in tow. We move around, dig in the soil and plant vegetables, and the sweat on our brows is proof of the exercise we’ve done. AlizaG. I create an obstacle course in my backyard with whatever toys I have on hand. Running through it is great exercise and keeps us entertained for hours. Joyce T.