Youth Fitness
You know that the children of today are the adults of tomorrow. As parents, guardians, relatives and mentors, it is our responsibility to make sure that the children with whom we have been entrusted have what they need to move into the future. This is especially true when it comes to their physical health.
It is no secret that children are less active today than they were even a few years ago. More and more children are obese, and even more children are being diagnosed with type II diabetes that has historically been labeled "adult onset diabetes". The rise in children with asthma is also alarming. Most of these conditions are reversible with proper diet and exercise.
Youth need to be active and also to understand how their nutrition choices now impact the rest of their lives. If your child or a child you know is struggling to be active there is hope.
I have worked with youth in various capacities over the last twelve years. One thing I have learned is that sometimes it just takes a person outside the normal realm of family to make a difference. If you would like Tonya to work with your child, please fill out a brief questionnaire.
...a family that makes healthy choices now, will be more likely to do so in the future...
Family
Family is the single most important component when we talk of youth fitness success. A family that regards fitness as an essential part of their time together will ultimately create an environment where physical activity is the norm. You don't have to be athletic to be active. It can be as simple as going for a casual hike on the weekend.
Children look to the adults in their world and respond accordingly. If value is placed on family activities, not only are our bodies strengthened, but also our bonds within the family grow. A family who makes healthy choices now will be more likely to make healthy choices in the future.
If you would like to find out more about scheduling sessions as a family, please fill out a brief questionnaire.
Sport Conditioning
Athletic youth looking to better their game need a fitness edge. Many camps are available in the off-seasons to teach skills for individual sports, but most youth do not receive proper instruction in regards to cardio and strength training. It is no wonder that so many young star athletes end up on the injured list by the time t hey reach college.
It has been proven that cardio and strength training is beneficial to young athletes in the prevention of injury. As youth grow, a lot of times muscle development lags behind. The goal of youth strength training is not to see which child is the strongest, but rather to improve the musculoskeletal strength of the children while exposing them to a variety of safe and effective training methods that are fun. The most common concern associated with youth strength training is the belief that this type of exercise will cause damage the growth plates of children. Although a few case study reports have indeed noted growth plate fractures in children who lifted weights, most of these injuries occurred as a result of improper training, excessive loading or lack of qualified adult supervision. Generally speaking, if 7 and 8 year old children are ready for participation in organized sports or activities (e.g. little league baseball or gymnastics), then they are ready for some type of strength training.
To minimize the possibility of injury, Tonya uses methods and equipment that offer resistance while not overloading the muscles and joints of her clients. Because each child and sport is unique, Tonya will use exercises that best fit the goals of each young athlete. For more information on a sport conditioning program for your youth or to answer any questions you may have, please fill out a brief questionnaire.
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*Fitness results will vary from person to person.