Life Changing Aerobic Exercise - Only A "Mile-Per-Day"

Today’s Chicago Tribune features an article on how many Chicago area schools are outsourcing in-school fitness programs to address the absence of effective physical education. Illinois ranks 4th in the nation in childhood obesity. If it were an epidemic of any other kind, would schools respond differently to the dire health consequences affecting tens of thousands of students?

“Mile-Per-Day” is a WELL Street program that encourages aerobic activity. Any individual, regardless of age or physical condition, can benefit from Mile-Per-Day. Schools can effectively provide these benefits to their students and motivate them to adopt healthy lifestyle habits that will affect the quality of their lives, potentially forever. The research, on the benefits of aerobic exercise to children and adolescents, indicates that it is not just students’ heart health that will improve. The research promises these additional outcomes:

• Increased energy level
• More restful sleep
• Decreased risk of disease
• Healthy weight maintained
• Improved mood
• Better management of stress, anxiety, and depression
• Self-acceptance
• Increased attention span
• Improved learning and grades
• Better behavior

While I was reading about the sad fiscal state of things in Illinois, and how that contributes to the sad physical state of our children, the phone rang. A teacher in Hollywood, California, (part of the Los Angeles Unified School District) called to get a 2nd grade classroom signed up for Mile-Per-Day. The teacher is already putting it into practice with a 20-minute class hike every day. She wants to keep her students motivated with Monthly Certificates of Achievement, incentives, and interaction with other classrooms around the country that Mile-Per-Day provides. California’s dire financial crisis did not stop her from taking action to make a lasting difference in her students’ lives. Mile-Per-Day is growing one person, one school, and one company at a time. It’s simple, fun, for everyone, and it’s going to Hollywood!

Live WELL, A-Mile-Per-Day!

Michael