No one is expecting you to become an Biathlon Olympian like Brendan Green or a professional cross-country skier like the Firth sisters, Sharon and Shirley!
In September, in one of our past news posts, we mentioned the benefits of the cold temperature on the body, but now, we will talk about a few other benefits. Daily Exercise for as little as 15 minutes, improves physical, emotional, and mental wellness. For an aging community, a lifestyle that embraces physical activity enhances independence for all ages: elders who are encouraged to do some form of activity will help maintain the muscles they need for daily tasks, requiring less help as they age. For children, developing physical literacy at a young age tends to keep them active as they grow older. In addition, activity helps children develop the muscles they need for everyday tasks such as walking, sitting down, standing up, and general hand-eye coordination.
A lot of options are out there: we encourage you to do a "walk and talk" with your neighbors, your kids, your niece and nephew, grandma and grandpa, your favorite elder, or even your dog! Once the snow flies, you can take the skis out for a stroll; you can even wear them. Maybe you could invite the gang to go dancing at the community center. If you are more of a thrill seeker and walking isn’t enough excitement, how about a few ice-skating laps around your local ice rink?
You might even have your own idea, and that's where the NWTRPA comes in. Three categories of Get Active grants are available to help you put on a three free community event to get people physically active over the winter! You can check out the website here to read all about them, and you'll find the application link there too! Apply Here!
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