The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Teens learning healthy workouts
ONEIDA >> Teens are getting the chance to get fit at the YMCA of the Greater Tri- Valley. Whether they’re athletes seeking to stay in shape during the off- season or kids who just want to stay active, trainer Sheila Jones said the program was designed to help anyone.
The teen circuit or interval training at the Oneida Y is a pilot program the group put together with Otto Shortell Middle School to garner interest in a teen fitness program. Sixteen kids signed up, and Youth and Family, Health and Fitness Program Director Steven Eddy said that’s a sure sign they will continue the program this summer
Otto Shortell eighth graders Nate Lombardi and Kyle Ackerman are both young athletes. Both of them said they signed up for the program at their parents’ suggestion, but also so they could prepare themselves for high school football.
“I did this to improve, to get stronger and faster,” Lombardi said.
“I think it’s important to stay in shape,” Ackerman said. “It’s definitely hard work, but she doesn’t force anyone to do it. She’ll ask for like eight laps, but if you can only do five she’ll accept it. . It’s all about improvement.”
“The program is important on two different levels,” Jones said. “I set the goals extremely high so that the aspiring athletes can push themselves to do better, but it’s also here for kids that don’t play sports but want to stay fit and active.”
According to Jones, the program is meant to be a high intensity training exercise, though the kids are encouraged to work at their own pace. Jones is in the process of being certified as a youth health coach.
“Parents want their kids to be physically fit,” Eddy said. “There is nothing similar to this in the area. I believe it serves a dual purpose; mostly it educates kids on something they lack in schools, which is proper work out technique.”
The training exercises are different from day- to- day activities, and kids are led by trainer Jones. Work
FROM PAGE 3 outs include sequences of jumping jacks, crunches and other exercises, running, obstacle courses and outdoor, boot camp style workouts.
“Every session is different, I try to work different body parts with different activities,” Jones said.
She also teaches the kids to monitor their heart rates, an important lesson she said has been covered by many studies.
“Studies show that youth heart rates should not exceed 160 to 180,” Jones said. “We make sure we stay in a comfortable range, and I have them bring their heart rates down in between activities.”
The program has been such a success with kids that people have been asking that Jones and Eddy open it up to other age groups.
The current training will be active for three more weeks. Eddy said the success of the program with OSMS is bolstering an eightweek program this summer. While the summer program doesn’t have a start date currently, Y members can contact Eddy with interest at seddy@ ymcatrivalley. org or 363- 7788.