Kids' fitness tops in summer program
Free sessions get children moving
Kathleen M. Ross is concerned that Tessia, her 8-year-old daughter - the youngest of nine children - spends too much time in the car, mainly while accompanying her parents on errands, or to take her older siblings to activities.
"She struggles with tiredness," the West Boylston mother said. "Kids don't get enough exercise, so it helps to have a little something extra to get them motivated."
Tessia certainly appeared to be inspired Monday - doing push-ups, squats, and sit-ups with glee, and then boogying her heart out during a free-style dance segment at the first day of Kids' Summer Fit Camp at the Ciccone Family Fitness Center on High Street.
The free, five-day program, sponsored by Clinton Hospital, is for children ages 6 to 12.
The 90-minute sessions are taught by Mayra B. Ciccone, an instructor and co-owner of the gym, who began Monday with a chat about healthy breakfasts and a word of advice about consuming too much soda.
"Do you know they use soda to clean car engines?" she asked the grimacing crowd of about 30 children.
The class began with jogging in place, although that resulted in some slapping noise to the floor, as a few of the kids wore flip-flops. Groups of older girls stuck together, practically shoulder to shoulder, while little Max Cuozzi, 6, attempted to join his older sister, Madison, 9, who was with her friend and wanted no part of him.
Max's mother, Jill M. Cuozzi, stayed with him instead.
"He's a little shy - and Mom needs a workout, too," she said with a laugh.
The class moved on to push-ups, sit-ups, squats, squeezing rubber balls for strengthening chest muscles, and dribbling the balls, before ending with three dance segments: a dance party, a Spanish dance - Ms. Ciccone is from Puerto Rico - and a free-style session.
After the class, Ms. Ciccone said she intends to vary the classes each day, depending on ages and the number of boys who attend.
"It's hard to gauge," she said. "Boys are more sports-oriented, but I try to keep switching back and forth. Dancing is a favorite of mine, and I'd really like to expose them more to that. They can express themselves with music and come out of their shells."
Ms. Ross said Tessia was excited about the class.
"I try to incorporate exercise at home, but it's difficult. This is making it a lot easier," she said.
Henry Vera-Garcia, Clinton Hospital's manager of community benefits and interpreter services, said the hospital, part of Worcester-based UMass Memorial Health Care Inc., strives to provide some community services that are not strictly related to health care.
"We also want to better people's lives, and exercise is one of those things people are really interested in. Especially if we can get little kids into it as early as possible - obesity and malaise being what it is - we're really pushing for that," he said, noting that 33 children signed up for this week's session.
Last summer, the hospital offered a yoga program, he said, and next month, there will be a free five-day exercise camp for children ages 13 to 16.
By Karen Nugent
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