Children work with
weighted balls during a fitness class taught by Valerie
Unkrich at Iowa Wesleyan College last week. Unkrich is in the
white shirt and black pants behind the girls. She is throwing
a ball to Ed Thomas, Ed.D.
Mt. Pleasant News
January 23, 2004
Program helps local residents get in shape
By Martha Wick
Staff
Writer
Henry County
Public Health and the Rec Center are once again teaming up to
present Strengthening Strides. Phase III of Strengthening Strides
started on Jan. 5 and will run through May 25. According to Katie
Hingtgen, coordinator of cardiovascular risk reduction for the Henry
County Public Health and Strengthening Strides director, there still
is space available for anyone who is interested. Hingtgen stresses
that you need not have participated in Phase I and/or II to be part
of Phase III.
"We're trying
some new things and anyone can join," she
said.
Hingtgen said one
exciting addition to the program has been guest speaker Ed Thomas,
Ed.D. of the Iowa Department of Education. Thomas is an expert in
health and fitness and will be addressing issues related to
different aspects of nutrition and fitness.
One topic Thomas will
discuss is "The Quiet Side of Fitness - No Pain, All Gain." Thomas
said, "You don't have to be perfect. We strive for perfection, it's
human nature. But we each have our own strengths and weaknesses."
Thomas said the secret to keeping fit is balance and relaxation. "It
doesn't matter what kind of shape you are in now or whether you are
young or old. Every moment of our lives we are either getting better
or worse. Every day is the first day of your
life."
Many people lack an
awareness of what is happening within their own bodies, Thomas said.
How do you carry yourself? Is there a better way to sit? Are you
relaxed? Thomas said these are some of the important fitness
questions to ask yourself.
Thomas wants people to
understand that fitness is not about going to the gym and sweating.
It is about relaxation and becoming aware of how you move and use
your body.
In addition to
working with Strengthening Strides, Thomas has been crisscrossing
the state appearing in schools and gymnasiums. He said posture is an
important issue in schools. Students are forced to sit in desks that
promote bad posture, which can cause problems down the road such as
rounded shoulders, downward tilt of the pelvic angle and possibly
chronic pain as adults.
In
addition to visiting local primary and secondary schools, Thomas
visited the interim fitness class taught by Valerie Unkrich at Iowa
Wesleyan College last week. Thomas said he is impressed with the
many people in Mt. Pleasant who are working toward community
physical fitness. "Mt. Pleasant has the resources to be a shining
example for the rest of the state," Thomas said.
Hingtgen said the
Strengthening Strides program includes a pedometer that measures the
steps you take when you run or walk. "You can incorporate other
activities (besides walking or running) into your total daily
distance," she said.
"It
doesn't take three hours a day. You can weave it into your daily
life," Thomas promised.