PE/Health Teacher Tips on Staying Active and Healthy During School Closures By: Giovanna Bechard and Cindy Long Stress and anxiety have spiked as cases of COVID-19 surge but there are ways to maintain a sense of control and calm in an uncontrollable, uncertain time – keep social distancing practices, get lots of rest and stay physically active, health experts advise. It’s the last part – staying active and getting enough exercise – that many people struggle with, especially with kids at home.
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Some things to consider would be ‘consistency over perfection’ when it comes to exercise, many people think that they have to be perfect with diet and exercise, when it is not the case. Just being consistent will help your health.”
“Some things to consider would be "consistency over perfection" when it comes to exercise, many people think that they have to be perfect with diet and exercise, when it is not the case. Just being consistent will help your health, said Cheryl Lambert a Health teacher in Yarmouth who is working to keep her students and her family active. Lambert knows how hard keeping an exercise routine is in these circumstances, especially as many are trying to both work and parent at the same time. She’s in that boat too, with three young kids at home. Exercise, Lambert says helps. Physical activity can ease stress and anxiety, improve sleep, and boost immunity – all of which are needed to cope with the pandemic. Lambert says to 20
Maine Educator • COVID-19 Special Edition
make things easier, form an accountability/support group to keep you motivated to move. “I have a group of 4 friends, and we text each other every time we complete a workout and cheer each other on. We haven't worked out together in a while, but it just helps to have the support and know someone is pumped that you completed something for your health. We started out sharing those results and now we share our life. It has been great,” added Lambert, Yarmouth EA. Some of the easiest things to do for exercise is to simply get outside and get some fresh air. If you have kids, take a family walk or go for a hike. Make it a game – run for 30 seconds, walk for 30, and set a place or landmark in the distance to race to. Go for a bike ride and try to spot what neighbors have put in their windows, like teddy bears, hearts, and rainbows.
Some of the easiest things to do for exercise are to simply get outside and get some fresh air.
If the weather doesn’t cooperate, take the activity inside. Iowa physical education teacher Erika Mundt sent her high school PE students a body weight workout to follow three days a week and encourages them to use MyFitnessPal to log their movement and diet. Body weight workouts can be done by anyone of any age and are an easy way to keep muscles strong – pushups, sit ups, and squats are the basics, but there are lots of different exercises to try that work your muscles in your arms, back, legs and abdominals. Go for three sets of 15 and work up from there. “Ultimately, we want our students and their families to understand the need to move daily,” she says. “We want to encourage healthy
