4 Kinds of Exercise Every Teen Needs
In “4 Kinds of Exercise Every Teen Needs,” Episode, #178, Meredith Curtis explains four ways our bodies need to workout to stay healthy and fit: aerobic, strength, balance, and stretching. After giving a wide variety of workout examples and sports that cover two or more kinds of exercise, she shares how teens can design their own workout schedule to fit their taste and style. She also encourages teens to find a lifetime sports and shares how that plays a role not only in lifetime health, but happiness as well. Teens can build healthy habits now that last a lifetime.
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Show Notes
Teens, are you worried about spending too much time in front of a screen and not enough time working out? Or maybe you are a parent concerned about your teen’s health? Exercise is a big part of staying healthy from birth to old age.
First let’s talk about 4 kinds of exercise our bodies need.
4 Kinds of Exercise
- Aerobic
- Strength Training
- Balance
- Stretching
Many sports and workouts combine them all.
- Ballet
- Ice Skating
- Water Aerobics
- Swimming, Diving, + Stretching
- Soccer + Stretching before and afer
- English Country Dance + Stretching
- Gymnastics
Aerobic
Works heart muscle. Makes heart pump harder and faster. Gives our lungs a workout too with a greater need for oxygen.
- Running
- Swimming
- Dance (ballet, tap, jazz, Old English country, square, ballroom)
- Skiing
- Cycling
- Basketball
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Football
- Soccer
- Classes (kickboxing, Zumba, Jazzercise, boot camp)
- Gymnastics
Strength Training
Muscle strength is the amount of work your muscles can do.
Muscle endurance is how long a group of muscles can work effectively.
You build muscle strength and endurance through strength training where you focus on a particular body part (e.g. situps) or in the process of aerobic workout (e.g. running builds leg muscles)
“he’s ripped!” – when you work out to build muscle mass, you actually damage/tear muscle and when the muscle repairs itself, it is bigger than before.
Low weight + Many reps = Toned muscles
Heavy weight + Fewer reps = Large muscles
Balance
Balance is the ability to maintain poise and physical equilibrium in various body positions. Gynastics, ballet, ice skating, soccer, and football all required balance.
Balance easy – stand on 1 leg; then the other and other easy exercises
Stretching
When you stretch a body part you lengthen (stretch) the muscles and associated soft tissues.
Benefits
- Improves flexibility
- Maintains mobility
- Increases range of motion
- Increases blood flow
- Prevents injury
- Improves posture
- Improves sleep
- Eases anxiety
- Releases tension from muscles, joints, ligaments (connect bone to bone), and tendons (connect muscle to bone)
Most importantly, stretching before and after working out, warms the muscles and keeps them from tightening up, preventing injury of bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
Teaching Health to Teens
Physical Anatomy (How the body works & what the body needs)
Personal Responsibility (what will they do to take care of their bodies?)
I have written my own high school health course. I also teach health at True North Homeschool Academy.
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Teens can figure out what sports they like to play already and/or would enjoy adding to their life
- Large group (basketball, football, soccer) or single (running, ice skating, horseback riding) or small number (tennis)
- Making a plan that includes all 4
Benefits of at least exposure to serious team sports
Choose a lifetime sport
- Cole-basketball
- Aunt Joan – tennis
I teach Health online at True North Homeschool Academy
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