Health | Exercise
Maintaining Balance: THE EXERCISE AND REST “TEETER TOTTER” BY CAROLINE A. FISHER, M.A.
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xercise and activity help boost your mood, your emotional wellbeing, and your metabolism ~ so does rest! Since many of us are now at home isolating or self-quarantining while waiting for the coronavirus to clear, it is natural to want to keep the couch warm and eat comfort food to allay our anxieties. However, eating and watching TV all day will not keep us healthy or productive! What to do to maintain balance? Read on. First the “teeter.” It is very important to keep moving even if you are working or studying from home. You can meet the minimum daily requirements of exercise by choosing among the following activities for at least 15-30 minutes daily (try more if physically able): • Incorporate traditional, Native games into your family routine (try Native Games or these traditional Native games for ideas) • Play chase/tag with children in your yard • Do an aerobic routine with your family in your home (try searching YouTube for “workout”) • Do resistance training (tug of war or bands) inside or in your yard • Play soccer or flag football with your family in your yard • Gardening (planting, weeding, harvesting) • Lift weights in your home • Play Frisbee, catch, etc. with someone in your family in your yard • Set up a net for volleyball or badminton and play a game with family • If you have a swimming pool, swimming or water aerobics are fun • Find specific recommendations for your age and ability at the CDC.
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A M E R I C A N I N D I A N & A L A S K A N AT I V E L I V I N G
