Maintaining Balance

THE EXERCISE AND REST “TEETER TOTTER”

BY CAROLINE A. FISHER, M.A.

Exercise 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.

Now the “totter.” We know the importance of exercise, but did you know that it is equally important to rest in between exercise routines? During this coronavirus pandemic, you may have more opportunity for rest than you ever thought possible! Here are some ideas for enjoying a healthy rest in between your exercise routines:

• Spend time listening to classical music. Music therapy has been used for over 100 years to help people “address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs” according to the American Music Therapy Association (musictherapy.org). Visit musicalamerica.com and scroll down to view links to online opera and classical music sites available 24/7.

• Cook meals at home and include your children. There are delicious and healthy recipes included in this issue and many more at adventhealth recipes. Share your family cooking traditions with your younger family members by perusing First Nations recipes. Most grocery stores allow ordering online and pickup from your car so you can stay safe when shopping.

• Sleep seven to eight hours a night (9-10 for children up to age 18). Try to avoid napping very long as it interrupts sleep patterns.

• Read to your children or to yourself. Dust off your books if you haven’t read them in a while, or hop online to the many audible, online, and downloadable options on the internet. Search for “online books” to find many sources. ☐