FAMILY FITNESS
Turning kids on to exercise
BROOKE BURKE-CHARVET
This mother of four and former Dancing With the Stars co-host is all about sweating with her family.
“Leading by example has been the most valuable lesson for family fitness,” said Burke-Charvet, whose kids range from nine to 17.
This family does a lot of moving together — they love hitting the track at nearby Pepperdine University.
But it’s tough getting her teens to take the Booty Burn class she teaches because they think it’s too intense. Burke-Charvet is also a fan of hot yoga and spinning for herself.
“Family fitness is a big event in our household. We often take our children to the gym with us and work with the trainer who knows how to safely train children. I Soul Cycle with my husband and my teenagers,” said Burke.
“No mother should ever have an excuse that having a child can keep you from being fit.”
Try it at home:
Sign up for a family plan at the gym
Schedule a date with your teen to take a spinning, yoga or kickboxing class
Go to a local track and practise sprint intervals to build endurance
HILARIA BALDWIN
With three kids under four, a book called The Living Clearly Method and a social calendar that often includes red-carpet appearances with husband Alec Baldwin, it’s rare that she gets any time to herself, let alone to hit the gym.
She’s all about sneaking in a class or going for a long solo run when she can, but most days she’s the queen of fitting in quickie workouts around the house while she’s playing with the kids.
Her Instagram account is full of short intervals doing squats, lunges or handstands, often with a few kids in tow. “I do these things called down moment workouts. I try to be as active with my kids as possible. Not only just for myself, but to teach them,” Baldwin said.
She’s also a big fan of fully immersing herself into her children’s play and encourages moms to play hard alongside their kids and get sweaty climbing all over the jungle gym.
She also does her own workouts while they are playing. “They’ll be in the playroom and that will give me 10 minutes to do core exercises and they think that’s funny because I’m down on the ground and they will jump on top of me.”
Try it at home:
Jump on the trampoline Do acro-yoga, lie on your back and put the kids on your feet or legs. Baldwin’s kids call it flying Create relay races in the house Climb the stairs
ERIKA BOOM
The name of her fitness apparel brand says it all: Fit Mama.
Erika Boom loves early morning workouts and, surprisingly, her seven-year-old son loves going with her.
“He also likes to cheer me on (in CrossFit), take pics and show me how he does a particular move. When I’m done ... he does some rowing, box jumps, pull-ups and even running.”
Boom and her husband are also serious cyclists. Sometimes their son tags along or skateboards while she rides through their Miami neighbourhood.
“We are the family who prefers to ride the bike to the local farmers’ market instead of driving the car. We are the family who wakes up early to watch a sunrise and throw in some jogging while we are there. Our kids ... learn from our own interests.”
Try it at home:
Go for a family bike ride
Bring your kids along to watch your workout and encourage them to try some moves
Get up early as a family and sweat