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Anxiety 101

Posted On August 03, 2017

Christina Chapan

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Stress seems so rampant in our society. As our world accelerates through added pressure at work, technology and the fast pace of our world so does the opportunity to suffer from this condition. Anxiety can develop from biological sensitivity, personality type or overload.

Someone who is anxious is often responsible, hardworking and a perfectionist. They are sensitive to criticism, fearful of rejection and aim to please and seek approval. They are affected by others’ opinions, need to be in control, have difficulty relaxing, difficulty with strong emotions and being assertive.

Disability Youth Overview Part 4

Posted On July 28, 2017

Christina Chapan

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Last month we talked about motor skill differences with children. This month we will discuss varies mental disabilities.
Mental Disabilities
People with mental impairments develop at a slower rate emotionally, developmentally, and physically. Genetic conditions, problems with pregnancy, and early health problems may cause mental retardation. Mental retardation is very common, affecting 3 out of every 100 people. There are four basic levels of retardation. With all mental disabilities, the structure is key. Advice for working with those students with mental retardation includes breaking down tasks into simpler steps, using concise simple directions, providing opportunities for repetition, repeating tasks and skills, and striving for appropriate age-level behavior. A good teacher or trainer will have more than one way to accomplish a goal if the first way they teach the student does not work.

Indoor Activity! Indoor Fun and Learning!

Posted On July 14, 2017

Christina Chapan

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I have had the opportunity this year to have a fairly large classroom. And I have found that kids like activity in their learning. Presently, I have various sports equipment that I bought either at the Dollar Tree, Five Below, or on Amazon. Here is some of the equipment I have used in my classroom.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Posted On July 06, 2017

Christina Chapan

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Carpal tunnel syndrome is a hand-and-arm condition that causes numbness, tingling, and other symptoms. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by a pinched nerve in your wrist. A number of factors can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome, including the anatomy of your wrist, certain underlying health problems, and possibly patterns of hand use. Bound by bones and ligaments, the carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway located on the palm side of your wrist. This tunnel protects a main nerve to your hand and the nine tendons that bend your fingers. Compression of the nerve produces the numbness, tingling and, eventually, hand weakness that characterize carpal tunnel syndrome.

Disability Youth Overview Part 3

Posted On June 28, 2017

Christina Chapan

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This is the third in the series on youth disabilities. This month we will focus on motor skill disabilities.

Motor Skills
Children with motor skills disabilities often have another disability. They move slowly and have a hard time controlling their muscles. Some children suffer from lack of ability with large motor movements such as running, jumping, kicking and throwing, and catching, and others with small motor movements such as using their hands and fingers. Teachers and trainers must work together with an adaptive physical educator to find simplified ways to teach fitness skills. It is helpful to teach academic and physical skills by breaking the tasks down into small parts. Fine motor skills that should be integrated into academic and fitness activities include kneading with dough, working with modeling clay, using whole punchers, cutting with scissors, and writing in sand or shaving cream. Painting with a bucket of water on a chalkboard or driveway and writing words on a chalkboard or sidewalk are good activities to include in fine motor coordination. An occupational and physical therapist is helpful in the gym, classroom, and home.

Disability Youth Overview Part 2

Posted On May 28, 2017

Christina Chapan

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Last month we talked about working with children with physical disabilities.

We will continue the discussion of physical impairments with visual, hearing and speech and language impairments.
Visual Impairments
A visual impairment is more than someone who wears eyes glasses. Their visual acuity is 20/70 or less, and they will struggle with vision, even when using a corrective prescription. A trainer or teacher may assist the student by using verbal directions and by asking the student for how the student learns best. Because of their limited vision, the student often has poor motor skills and displays easy fatigue. Ask them how they would feel comfortable being guided. Give students mental pictures and descriptive words. Simplifying the game or skill is also effective. Also, give a mental picture of the environment and have a student helper that can stay with the participant as they participate in the activity. If the child is partially sighted use reflective tape for visual guidance.

9 Tips to Boost Your Confidence as an Instructor

Posted On May 27, 2017

Andrea White Marinas

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1. Study with the best. Great instructors remain students at heart and never lose the desire to learn from the best. Develop relationships with mentors and keep up with your continuing education. Do workshops that dive deeper into a particular focus. Take fitness classes outside your niche to open your mind to different cues, stretches, and movement patterns.

2. Work on your voice. Vocal energy has a huge impact on your leadership role when teaching a class (or training one-on-one.) Think of people you greatly admire. Chances are they have great voices. At the very least make sure people can understand and hear you. Consider a local voice class as part of your continuing education or check out YouTube for vocal exercises to increase your range and protect your voice.

5-Week Strategy: Transitioning Into Spring Running

Posted On May 21, 2017

Laurie Lasseter

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Spring is here! You are probably excited to get outside and run. You may have a 5K or 10K race this spring that looks interesting to you and you are anxious to get ready for it and to do well. Depending on what you have been doing this winter, you need to be careful transitioning to spring running to avoid injury. Here are some guidelines:

If you have been running indoors all winter:

If you live in a climate like Chicago, you have likely spent the winter running on a treadmill or track. In this case, you need to transition carefully to running outdoors. The running surfaces and conditions outdoors are much different in terms of their impact on your body. To avoid injury, don’t suddenly start running outdoors. Instead, follow this strategy:

Yoga For Special Needs

Posted On May 11, 2017

Christina Chapan

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Teaching yoga for special needs can be a rewarding experience. But I have found that each class is as unique as the population you are teaching. Here are some great tips to use as you work for any fitness class with individuals with special needs.

First of all, I knew that I needed to be aware of the class I was teaching. One season it was filled with Special Olympics clients so I needed to do stretches and strengthening for the various sports. Another had a heavy autistic population so I knew I needed to have students do yoga games with the purpose of teaching social skills and interacting with one another. Another season it was stress relief since many of my participants suffered from anxiety and fear. I would always start class with an introduction of the class, a brief answer and question session about each person’s week, and sometimes things we were grateful for.

The Role of Exercise in Stress Management

Posted On May 09, 2017

Shaun Zetlin

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Life can be a constant challenge full of daily hurdles. Everyone has their own struggles. No one is immune from stress. While some stresses can actually lead to positive action, stress can be an absolute killer to us physically, mentally, and spiritually. It’s very easy to not want to move or exercise when feeling this constant negative tension. However, this is exactly what we must all do to reverse the adverse effects of stress: exercise. And, as fitness professionals, it’s vital to teach and provide proper guidance to our clients to move even when not with us. So, what’s the proper vernacular that the fitness professional should reiterate to their clients about stress and exercise? Moreover, how does the fitness professional inspire their clients to move especially when not in their company? How does the need become greater than the want?

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