Yahoo Finance Five ways to workout with your family during a pandemic
Parents often find it hard to get some quality ‘me’ time or workout time while maintaining a balance between work and looking after kids. Personal health is neglected in the midst of managing the kids online classes, workload, attending meetings and handling after-school activities, there just isn’t enough time.
With the current pandemic hitting the globe and families reuniting, it is a good time to consider growing fit as a family. Working out with your family can be a great bonding experience that can help all of you unwind and grow closer together. Mrs Sabrina Merchant, the founder of Li’l Yogis, a certified kids yoga expert and the author of 'Ocean Yoga', shares some simple tips to help reclaim your health, get fit and encourage your children towards a healthier lifestyle.
Pick your fit hour - Pick a time that works for everyone at home. It doesn't have to be a morning slot, you could also consider picking an evening slot. It’s important to plan your workouts in advance to ensure they happen. It is also a good idea to get everyone involved and discuss a suitable time before choosing the time slot. Remember this is that time where you want to cut off from everything else and focus only on your health and that of your family. Children always watch and learn and you are their mentor for life. So start by setting the right example and follow the schedule.
Choose the type of exercise - With kids involved, it is always a great idea to pick exercises that can be done outdoors. Kids love to connect with nature, so going for walks together. Playing a sport together or practising yoga outdoors could be a great idea. You could also try choosing different days for different kinds of fitness activities.
Set fitness goals together- Whether you want to lose weight or simply live a healthier lifestyle, don’t be afraid to get your kids involved in your fitness routine. Exercising together as a family can be an incredibly rewarding experience in more ways than one.
Make it fun, engaging and interesting - It's very important to get creative with your exercises. No matter what type of exercise program your family wants to participate in, there are ways you can spice things up and keep them interesting. From choosing different spaces to go on a walk together, to playing some music while exercising, involving few outdoor games and may be going trekking together or choose a dance class together. There is always an element of fun in everything you do. The possibilities are endless!
Do not compete: The idea is to get fit together. Avoid backslashing or competing with each other. Use this time to also focus on building your bond while getting fitter together. Talk, workout, play, share experiences and motivate each other to get better and grow as a family. Focus on togetherness.
