When was the last time that you went to the park with your family or friends? When was the last time you met up with your family/friends to exercise together instead of watching a movie together or grabbing a drink?
Well, as a gentle and healthy reminder every year, on the second Saturday of June, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) promotes Family Health and Fitness Day. This year that date falls on June 10, 2023. However, the importance of this date is deeper than just getting out for a beautiful, recreational day at the park with your family; but is about instilling good habits in your kids, loved ones, friends, and most importantly yourself. I’ll start by saying family doesn’t have to be someone you’re related to by blood – it can be someone you love unconditionally, have a deep respect for, someone you care for deeply, or someone you only want the best for.
To me, Family Health and Fitness Day can be the catalyst for instilling good physical activity habits in yourself and the people you hold dearest to you. This day is important because as we continue to live, everyone is so busy taking care of someone, working, cooking, cleaning, shopping, planning, organizing, prepping, etc., we forget to focus on our own health, wellness, and fitness. This day is the perfect opportunity to get your family to go outside to a park, go on a hike, take a bike ride, or even take a nice swim in a pool at a local recreation center or in your backyard if you’re fortunate enough to do so. To parents with younger kids, one of the best ways to inspire your kids is to be their role model; if you want them to be healthy and go outside, go out there with them. If you want them to get some good exercise in, go to the gym with them or do some sort of physical activity together. Even if you don’t have kids, enjoy a beautiful day outside with your significant other or friends. Living in the Bay Area, we are fortunate enough to have great weather and a plethora of parks and outdoor activities to take advantage of. The best thing we can do for our family is help keep each other accountable and prioritize our health and fitness daily to ensure good habits outside of Family Health and Fitness Day.
Family Health and Fitness Day don’t have to be just one day, but it can be daily, weekly, or bi-weekly. You and your family’s health and fitness don’t have to stop after June 10, 2023, is over; I challenge you to use that day as a way to start a healthy routine with your family, friends, and loved ones.
About the Author:
A native to the Bay Area, Jonathon aka J.P. received his bachelor’s degree from California State University Northridge in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Exercise Science. After graduating from Northridge, he lived in Arizona for 3 years where he was working as an Exercise Physiologist. His work focused on diagnostic testing and evaluations for professional MMA fighters, population health management, and compromised health patients. Jonathon was also the lead exercise physiologist of a clinical study that evaluated cognitive and quality of life (QOL) improvements in patients with Alzheimer’s Disease through a personalized mitochondrial food plan diet and cellular repair therapy. In his spare time, he referee’s junior high and high school basketball, plays basketball, travels, and spends time with his family.
Photo by Eleanor Gwen Stewart: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-walking-1766696/
