Can you believe that we spend more time on the toilet than we do exercising?
According to this piece of research we are exercising for less than 30 minutes per week.
Children on average, should exercise for around 60 minutes per day and if we as adults aren't role modelling a healthy and active lifestyle then there's a chance our children will follow our lethargic lead.
We're lucky that we have great outdoor spaces at Free Rangers and as research shows we know that time spent outdoors in green space offers many benefits:
1) Increased levels of Vitamin D
2) Eye health
3) Improved sleep
4) Clean air (less pollutants than indoors)
5) Grounding (our bare foot policy encourages a connection with earth)
6) Exercise (the physical benefits)
7) Psychological health (mental health and well being)
Working in childcare is an emotionally and physically draining, we decided as a team that we also needed to invest time in looking after ourselves and do our best to buck the trend of the two hour toilet research!
We could have joined any gym, but we stumbled across one that really is like no other with regards to the ethos it holds.
Lift The Bar is based in Paulton and is nestled in the corner of a collection of sports pitches.
Chris Burgess and his team of amazing personal trainers, Grace, Michelle, Jonny and Ali put us through our paces twice a week.
We've been doing this for just over six weeks now and already people are noticing changes in their eating habits, in their mood levels and in their body shape and composition.
The emphasis is on fun and motivation at Lift The Bar and they simply want us all to feel great about ourselves by helping us to understand our personal goals and really supporting each other to achieve them.
Working in childcare is an emotionally and physically draining vocation but everyone that has attended the sessions feel that their energy levels have increased and they've reported better sleep patterns too.
In the same way we look at the children's learning, Lift The Bar focusses on the journey and not simply the end product. By doing this the results naturally fall into place but along the way there is the opportunity to form good habits and reflect on days that have gone well and those that have not gone so well. Everyone wants to be the best version they can be of themselves, both inside and out and trying to remember that more often than not is the message that comes through during each Lift The Bar session.
So let's spend less time on the porcelain throne and more time exercising. We can't afford not to, what with children's play space having been diminished by 70% over the last 30 years.
Whether it's walking the dog, gardening or kicking a ball, I bet our children can teach us a thing or two about being active if we just let them.
What's your favourite form of family exercise?
Charlotte
