When Exercise is Play, We All Win

One day, while stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, Greg and I took a long bike ride along one of the Rails to Trails routes. As we reached our turning point, we spotted a large outdoor fun park.

Stopping in for a water and bathroom break, we wandered around the park, passing go-carts, batting cages, slides. I suddenly stopped in wonder. A child was jumping high into the air from a large trampoline, flipping over and over, supported by a harness.

I looked around at those in line: All children, parents sitting on the sidelines watching. Disappointed, I figured it must just be for kids, but went up to the ticket booth to ask, just in case.

“No, anyone can do it,” the ticket taker said, “but we rarely have adults ask.”

I bought my ticket, stepped in line, and had a blast! With the harness in place you can jump really high and flip around in either direction. Exhilarating. It’s exercise, too, with the constant pushing off of your legs, accessing your core for balance, not to mention the boost to your lymph system that jumps provide.

I stepped off, ready to go again.

I know that one of the greatest joys of a parent is to watch their children having fun. But why just watch? Why not join in?

Let’s face it. We are all time-starved these days. Exercise often goes on the back burner. But exercise provides energy, the energy you need for all those activities on your plate. Exercise is crucial to your mood, health, and longevity.

I know that when your life is packed with activity, the thought of adding a workout into that schedule sounds impossible. For one thing, the word itself includes “work,” like one more chore. Here’s my idea.

Start saying, “I want to add more movement, fun movement, into my day.”

I guarantee if you add more movement into your life, your energy will increase, your stress will decrease, and you will find yourself better able to handle the challenges this military life throws your way.

Here are simple, fun ways to put more movement in your day:

• Get up from the computer, television, or from your chores, and Hula-Hoop! It gets all the kinks out. One woman in our workshop told us her doctor advised her to Hula-Hoop to get her waist back after giving birth. It worked for her. It works for me to pump up my energy in a short amount of time. You’ll be amazed at what fun hoop dancing, as they call it these days, can be. Check out some of the YouTube videos on hoop dancing. It’s my new favorite activity—fun, playful and works your core. I started a group that meets once a week at the local gym to hoop dance to fun music.

• By the way, don’t sit when you are on your computer. There is a lot of research on how detrimental sitting is. Stand up instead.

• Keep toys in the trunk of your car. After picking up your children from school, stop at a park and play with them for a bit. You’ll help them get some energy out, they will have fun with Mom or Dad, and you’ll increase your energy.

Sneak exercise into your day. Make it a game. Do squats while you blow-dry your hair or while you watch your kids practice soccer. Walk around the soccer field—you can still have your eyes on your child. Use the bench at the field for tricep dips or angled push-ups. Use the monkey bars for pull-ups. If you feel conspicuous doing that by yourself, enlist another parent to join you. You may start a trend.

Don’t believe me? Will you listen to a doctor and dad who is a physical medicine specialist, an associate professor, and, oh yes, one of the team physicians for the U.S. Olympic cycling team?

Dr. Ken Adams incorporates his exercise into play with his three young girls. He says, “at the playground, he’s usually the only parent not sitting on the bench, texting on a cell phone.”

Remember, “we don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”

Join in!