In Motion Profiles
The Health and Performance Centre is eager to announce the launch of an exciting new
venture- the People In Motion Profiles!
The project will showcase the experiences that members of the University of Guelph have had with physical activity, with the goal of inspiring and motivating the community to adopt a healthy, active life. The personal stories will address the barriers many have faced to achieving an active lifestyle, outline the strategies active members have used to maintain their health, and showcase the broad range of activities and programs the community offers to suit individual activity needs.
All articles written by Erika Marteleira
Children Need An Early Start To An Active Lifestyle
Siew is a staff member at the University of Guelph
Helping children learn and develop has always been a passion for Siew Kung Yau, who works at the University of Guelph’s Child Care Learning Centre (CCLC) on the east side of campus. Caring for preschool and kindergarten aged children, Siew creates activities that engage the children’s curiosity while assisting in their development- and an integral component to that is physical activity.
These days, many children are simply not getting the recommended 60 minutes of exercise they need each day. Demanding careers and the busy lifestyles of parents are often cited as the culprit of inactive children. More than ever, childcare centres are responsible for ensuring that physical activity is incorporated into a child’s day.
A member of the Guelph In Motion Committee for Children and Youth, Siew coordinates the CCLC’s physical activity programming. A favourite activity of both the staff and children is the “Hop and Jump Challenge”- an annual competition between several childcare centre’s in the community. This year, with the greatest tally of hops and jumps- thanks in part to Siew- the CCLC took the win!
Siew has not only motivated the children at the Centre to be active, she strives to be a role model for active lifestyles. She cycles in to work as much as she can, and the 30-minute ride each way keeps her physically fit. Making your commute human-powered is an easy way to incorporate physical activity into your routine.
A part from the indoor activities of the “Hop and Jump Challenge”, the CCLC has devised a fun way to get the children outside by having them help tend to an organic garden on the property. Not only do the kids love playing in the garden, they stay active while learning about the relationship they have with the food they eat. The chefs at CCLC use the harvested crops in the children’s lunches and snacks.
The children are also able to explore their natural environment through their visits to the arboretum, which is a short walk from the CCLC. “The children really love to be outdoors”, says Siew, who recognizes how important it is for children to appreciate nature. In many urban centres, children are not given the opportunity to explore undeveloped wilderness, causing what Richard Louv describes as a “Nature Defecit Disorder” in his book, Last Child in the Woods. The book’s introduction explains that it “explores the increasing divide between the young and the natural world, and the environmental, social, psychological, and spiritual implications of that change”.
Not only are children underexposed to nature, many aren’t developing skills in active movement- making it difficult to maintain an active lifestyle later in life. This physical literacy is an important goal for Siew’s program at the CCLC- teaching children basic skills that they have for the rest of their lives gives them the confidence to continue leading healthy, active lifestyles.
Giving children the activity they need at a young age instills that a healthy and active routine is a lifelong commitment. Parents looking for childcare that prioritizes physical activity should seek an “In Motion Certified” centre. These facilities will have completed an eight level program to equip them with the capacity to provide physical activities that children will have fun doing- and teaching an active life from the very beginning.
Laura Foster's Story
Being a teenager is not
always the easiest stage in life- movies, television shows, and pop songs are riddled with the trials and tribulations of teenage angst. That’s because teens often undergo a transition into adulthood that involves some inevitable insecurities and self-doubt. For Laura Foster, a fourth year Sociology major, being shy in elementary school developed into a social anxiety around sports as a teen- she lacked confidence in her physical abilities, and feared that she might let the team down. For someone who dislikes competition, Laura needed to find an outlet outside of organized sporting games- so she decided to try dance lessons.
Laura loved the classes, and when she discovered that a Regional Arts high school offered dance as a focus, she auditioned for the program- and was accepted. The non-competitive activity helped build her confidence in a surrounding that she found supportive and encouraging. Laura was able to maintain an active lifestyle in spite of her anxiety, and in time it helped her become more secure with herself and her abilities.
Dance has many forms and styles, each offering a unique way to express personal feelings and emotion. It uses the most rudimentary medium- the human body’s physical movements- to create a sophisticated art that requires both mental creativity and stamina. Physical activity is as much a mental exercise as it is physical.
For someone who is passionate about mental health issues, Laura now understands just how important that relationship is. Mental health can be a barrier to physical activity, just as physical activity can sometimes be abused due to a mental health issue. Yet, appreciating that bond and taking up activities that are engaging, fulfilling, and gratifying can resolve this unhealthy connection.
Laura has explored many different dance styles, including ballet, jazz and modern, but now prefers the spiritual and mental aspects of yoga. She has also joined a gym, participating in group classes. “For me, fitness has to be fun and enjoyable” says Laura. She has found an active lifestyle which she doesn’t find stressful or intimidating- instead, it’s the part of her day that she looks forward to.
An active lifestyle doesn’t need to be defined by having a gym membership, being an avid sports player, or pursuing exercise solely for physical exertion. Being healthy and active can be fun and rewarding, and enjoying the activity you choose is the most effective way to maintain a healthy, active life- looking forward to the next chance to explore your favourite forest, or perform your self-choreographed dance piece is motivation without the effort!
The emphasis on active living is the lifestyle- physical exercise is best maintained when it is part of your routine, and one of the things you enjoy about your day. Dreading the gym or fearing failure in sports is a mental struggle that will make activity a burden, and prevent you from getting the most out of your lifestyle. Physical activity is an integral part of your lifestyle- so save yourself the stress and make it worthwhile!
Ryan Best's Story
Ryan Best is a recent graduate concerned about the health and wellbeing of his community. So a few years ago, he decided to volunteer for a cause he feels strongly about- helping youth and students quit smoking. Working through the national initiative, “Leave the Pack Behind” (which operates out of the Wellness Center on campus), the program is a support network and resource center to help students quit cigarettes and lead a healthier, smoke-free life.
And a healthy life involves physical activity, something smokers are more likely to have difficulty with- wheezing, shortness of breath, and low endurance are all symptoms of smoking. However, Ryan doesn’t think this should prevent smokers from seeking an active lifestyle. He considers exercise a fantastic tool for those trying to quit. When being physically active, the body releases similar endorphins and chemicals that a cigarette triggers in a smoker- causing them to feel more elated and relaxed. In fact, research has shown that running can reduce cravings for nicotine and withdrawal symptoms.
Leave the Pack Behind has created an additional program- QuitRUNChill. Specifically focusing on the therapeutic ability of running, the eight-week program is tailored to young adult smokers and those who have recently chosen to quit. The program starts out slow, while gradually increasing the duration of running. It’s flexible to, allowing individual’s to work at their own pace. The design is from the collaboration of running instructors, experts in youth health, and ex-smokers who have used running to help quit.
There have been countless campaigns illuminating the risks of smoking, but Ryan knew from experience how difficult it can be to quit, even when the facts are obvious. His mother was a smoker, and Ryan witnessed both the physical and emotional struggles she had to go through. Leave the Pack Behind is a support network whose goal is to provide resources for people trying to quit, and to help them every step along their way to achieving it.
Resources:
www.quitrunchill.org
On campus- The Wellness Centre: Leave the Pack Behind
Melissa's Story
There are certainly mornings when Melissa just doesn’t feel motivated to get out of bed. It can be difficult for many of us to find inspiration to start an active day; it’s often far easier to find excuses than to challenge ourselves physically. But on these days, Melissa wakes up to her own personal motivator- Ruby, she knows, is counting on her to get moving.
As Melissa’s second guide dog from Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides Canada, Ruby needs to be fed, to be walked, and to be kept fit and healthy. When Melissa got her first Dog Guide, she didn’t realize the positive support it could have towards her goals of a regaining her once active lifestyle.
Growing up on a working farm in rural Manitoba, Melissa had always been active; work was outside and physical- a part of life. She had grown up training and riding horses, often spending several hours a day with them. With the support of her equestrian family, Melissa had become an international competitor, skilled in dressage, show jumping, and many other disciplines. When Melissa wasn’t competing, she was still riding; she loved being outdoors and around animals.
Now a soon-to-be-graduate from the University of Guelph, Melissa has many other accomplishments under her belt. She became certified in SCUBA diving while on a semester abroad; by incorporating physical activity into her travels, she not only maintains an active lifestyle, but can experience exciting new activities. When Melissa’s not abroad, she gardens at the Guelph Enabling Garden to stay active while enjoying the outdoors.
Melissa’s next goal is getting out on the trails in Guelph this summer. Recognizing the importance the outdoors has had in her life, she wants to be able to handcycle outside on cycling paths. Melissa is a wheelchair user, so to build her upper body and core strength, she’s been training at SpinFit, a program specifically designed to suit those different abilities at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Guelph. Using an arm ergometer, a machine similar to a stationary bicycle (except hand powered and upright), Melissa is well on her way.
Melissa’s progress began with her first guide dog, Spirit, who was meant to provide her with additional mobility to assist her with the tasks of daily living- like picking up small items she wasn’t able to reach. At first, Melissa found herself unable to do the things she had always known; instead, she was learning these movements as if for the first time. She wanted to be herself again, to recapture who she was.
Having a guide dog quickly turned into something more meaningful than she had expected. She felt the familiar bond she had shared with her horses, a partnership which she fondly knew and cherished from her past. Being able to train Spirit and Ruby gives her a renewed confidence in the abilities she’d mastered while training horses for competitions. Melissa has the responsibility to look after her dog guides, and an incentive to be active.
Melissa’s abilities may have changed, but she knows that an active lifestyle is important for both her physical and emotional health. Now with Ruby, she has the perfect partner to help her get outside this summer and in motion!
References:
Guelph Enabiling Garden
St. Joseph’s SpinFit Program
Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides Canada
