Healthy Tips
September 3, 2009 by Dan
Filed under One Person's View
By Annie Buckley
Sept. 3, 2009
Summer is full of activities that naturally nurture the body, mind, and heart—beach days and play dates, baseball and crafts, evenings on the porch—but what will happen to fun and fitness as the days grow shorter and busier? Use these tips to keep the healthy glow, creative play, and sunny optimism of summer in your family’s routine all through the fall.
Body: Try the Sunrise/Sunset card below to start a habit of daily exercise. It doesn’t have to take very long, five or ten minutes each day is a great start, but once you begin, it will feel so good you’ll want to add more—try lunges, jumping jacks, shoulder rolls, and side-stretches to extend your routine. Already exercise regularly? Then use this card to for a gentle stretch to wake up your body in the morning. Invite your children to join you for a healthy start to each day.
Mind: Make time to sit quietly at the beginning or end of the day; empty your mind, look at the view, or just rest. Try to create a few moments on your own to relax and reflect; notice how taking time out makes you feel. For children, an imaginative activity can offer the same sense of calm. Together, look at the sky in the morning and at sunset for a few days. Notice the colors and light. Then fold a paper in half. Color a sunrise on one side and sunset on the other. Use what you see in the sky and your imagination. How do we experience these opposites—light and shadow, energy and calm—throughout the day? How do they balance each other?
Heart: The sun is a source of light and heat for the whole planet. Its strength powers us all. This month, see if you can notice what empowers you—whether it’s a job well done, compliments, or a healthy meal—what makes you feel your best? Once you answer the question, consider ways to bring more of that into your life. When we feel strong and powerful, optimistic and hopeful, it rubs off on those around us. You can spread more sunshine by talking with your children; ask: What makes you feel bright and strong?
Editor’s Note: For more information on Annie Buckley’s Kids Yoga Deck and Once Upon a Time: Creative Writing Fun for Kids, please see: Chronicle Books.com or anniebuckley.com
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