The Myth of Exercise
I’ve been scooped!!! TIME magazine’s August cover story “Why Exercise Won’t Make You Thin,” is exactly what I have been saying for 33 years! Yes, way back in 1976 when the aerobics-go-for-the-burn craze was starting, I was skeptical. So I tried running. I felt everything drop: my face; my uterus; and my arches! But apparently, other females didn’t agree since running morphed into killer aerobic classes and millions of females starting jumping up and down urged on by Jane Fonda’s workout tapes. (Years later she apologized for the injuries people sustained.)
So what does this have to do with kids? Hopefully they aren’t exercising to burn calories though they hear their parents talking about it. Although the research proves that exercise isn’t a weight loss solution—the TIME article merely summarized what health experts had known for years– the public is not going to give up this chat tomorrow. The weight loss litany– “eat healthy and exercise more” will be repeated endlessly even as we get fatter. Anyone who has seen Wall-E, voted by Los Angeles critics as the best film of 2008, has to worry about where we are headed.
Parents have to teach their children to love movement itself, not as a means to an end. Natural movers are usually well coordinated which is partially related to symmetry. Now none of us is perfectly symmetrical top to bottom, right to left. Most of us are not symmetrical: we have imbalances and deficits that begin to affect us in adulthood. These alignment and postural issues can be addressed if one can afford to study Pilates, or Alexander Technique or Feldenkreis. Since this is not practical for kids, dance training is recommended. Today there are really excellent ballet teachers. This wasn’t always the case. But with today’s instruction, children can learn to develop body awareness, which leads to becoming a better mover which leads to loving to move. Despite its benefits, many won’t give dance a chance. For them, swimming—a safe, whole body exercise—may be the answer. If it is not, then parents need to look at the child and figure out which sport is right for which body. Someone who is good at archery may not succeed at swinging a bat in Little League. Basketball naturals don’t do well in gymnastics. Generally speaking, bodies are drawn to different styles of movement. Prima Ballerina Margo Fonteyn would not have done as well as a Martha Graham dancer. Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire were both superb dancers, but in different ways. So start by choosing what works for your child.
Finally, don’t push a child to compete in a sport unless the child is clearly gifted. Most children do something athletically in school, but don’t continue to do it as adults because they didn’t feel accepted and successful. The result is that as adults they hesitate to try something new. I took up Argentine Tango in my sixth decade. It is never too late to learn if you like to move.
