WEIGHT training and fitness classes are a must when aiming to lose weight. But there are other ways to stay healthy, and these include outdoor exercises and sports.
Jerry Diaz, a certified National Academy of Sports Medicine personal trainer, said “being a parent, educator and personal trainer has allowed me to see things from a different perspective.”
He said he has realized, among many other things, “that training without enjoyment or purpose” is counterproductive.
Fitness training, he added, is more enjoyable when mixed with sports such as basketball, volleyball, swimming, kayaking, tennis, badminton, baseball or frisbee, to name a few.
“Not only are you able to enjoy the movements of your favorite athletes, but you are also building aerobic conditioning, proprioception and coordination skills,” Diaz said.
Eventually, these may lead to habitual repetition and daily recreational practice, he added.
Diaz said sports training does not aim for competitiveness but is focused more on recreational goals.
He said individuals who are looking for an enhanced sports development program should consult a personal trainer.
Diaz said he recommends a scheduled progression routine for a safe and effective program.
With new clients, he said he asks them about their interest in any sport-related activity or general skills such as gardening and other home improvement-related activities.
“As I get to know my clients and their interests, I am able to weave their specific interests into exercise movements to build motivation and allow them eventually to train even without a trainer. When they enjoy an activity, they will perform it regularly,” he added.
Kimy Kim and Hana Diaz, both high school freshmen, are participating in a sports development program.
Contributed photos
