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Teaching the foundational skills of reading is often a lively and physical task: students clapping out the syllables in words and practicing letter sounds in chorus and teachers demonstrating the way that the mouth forms different shapes for different sounds. This year, though, it will likely look very different.

According to Education Weeks database of more than 900 districts, which is not nationally representative, 48 percent are doing all of their instruction remotely. Young students at these schools as well as those doing a mix of in-person and virtual instruction will be learning to read through screensin virtual classrooms with their teachers, working on computer programs and apps, or through some combination of the two.

Theres a robust evidence base for how to teach children to read in person: Decades of research has shown that explicitly teaching students how letters correspond to spoken soundsand teaching phonicsis the most effective way to help them learn to decode words. But theres little evidence on how this best practice should be translated to the remote environment.

It is clear, though, that many teachers will be using different materials than they do in the classroomfinding resources that can support live teaching over Zoom, or relying more on digital reading programs.

Many companies offering core reading curricula have updated and expanded their digital offerings during remote learning. Schools and teachers should take the same steps to evaluate these resources that they would print materials, experts say.

Prior Education Week reporting has shown that some of the most popular curricula and interventions used in classrooms dont teach letter-sound connections in a systematic way, raising the possibility that some students who are still learning the alphabetic code may be left with gaps in their understanding.

There are also adaptive, digital programs that students can work through independently. Some of these programs do align with evidence-based methods, said David Liben, a literacy expert and advisor to Student Achievement Partners, a nonprofit consulting group. They follow a scope and sequence and are systematic.

Still, he said, they havent been designed to be used as core instruction. If students arent also getting strong foundational skills instruction from a teacher, then youre not going to get good results from the supplementary program, he said.

Most also havent been evaluated in a home-based setting, without a teacher present. Other tools teachers might use, like apps and digital books, vary widely in quality, researchers say.

When evaluating how to use some of these tools, and in what combination with live online teaching, there are not hard and fast rules, said Devin Kearns, an associate professor of special education at the University of Connecticut.

This is where I would say you really need a teacher instead of an app, even if a teacher is using an app. Teachers have a unique knowledge of kidsthe specific kids, the environmentand a lot of skill in responding to immediate student needs that the programs still dont have.

When teachers of young children do have the opportunity for some live interaction with studentsover videoconference, for exampleresearchers suggest sticking to the kind of explicit, systematic instruction that has been proven effective for teaching how to read words in an in-person setting.

But many teachers wont have the same amount of face-to-face time that theyve had in previous years, and schools say theyre relying more on digital tools. In a nationally representative EdWeek Research Center survey, 63 percent of educators involved in K-2 reading said that they or the teachers they work with are using tech-based reading programs somewhat or much more frequently than they were before the school shutdowns.

The survey also asked which core and supplemental programs respondents had used to teach students how to read during remote learning. Two of the most popular resources were digital programs that target lessons to students based on the specific skills they need practice with: Lexia and iReady.

Both programs offer practice in phonemic awareness and phonics, as experts recommend, and collect data on student performance that teachers can use to tailor instruction outside of the platform. iReady also offers an assessment that is normed to performance on some state standardized tests. Studies of Lexia have shown small, positive effects. Research on iReadys instructional program has found that students who use it perform better on the iReady assessment, but hasnt evaluated whether it raises student achievement on other measures.

In general, most research on technology-based programs for teaching early reading has looked at how effective these programs are in combination with classroom teaching.

One 2013 review from education researchers Alan C.K. Cheung of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Robert Slavin of Johns Hopkins University looked at 20 studies spanning students in grades 1-6. The strongest effect sizes came from studies in which teachers worked with students in smallgroup settings, using technology that was closely aligned to their curriculum. Cheung and Slavin found a smaller positive effect for stand-alone supplemental programs, like Lexia. On the whole, though, the average effect size across all studies was much stronger for younger students (grades 1-3) than older students.

Other papers have also made the case that teacher implementation, unsurprisingly, plays a big role in reading program effectiveness. Two meta analyses, from 2012 and 2014, both found that programs that included teacher training and support were more effective than those that did not. (These papers included studies with a range of K-12 students, though, not just young learners.)

Its hard to know how effective digital reading programs will be if students are working through them at home. These programs are designed to be a part of, or a complement to, in-person instruction.

The effectiveness could be compromised, and theres also the potential for students to feel isolated and withdraw from learning, said Timothy Shanahan, a professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago and an author of the National Reading Panel report. Trying to stretch these [programs] to be more than they are, more than intended, might be OK, but Im worried about it, he said.

Liz Brooke, the chief learning officer for Lexia, said that the company doesnt recommend kids spend more time on the program at home than they would at schoolthe suggested limit for early readers is still 60 minutes a week, she said. Still, Brooke noted that usage went up this spring from previous years.

For stand-alone mobile apps, the research base is thinner. Studies have shown that its possible these tools can help children improve in foundational skills, like alphabet knowledge and word reading. But there are many choices, and quality varies greatly, Kearns said.

So how can teachers evaluate a program or app, or decide which parts of it to use?

Kearns suggests that they start by looking for the core instructional components that they would expect in any in-person curriculum.

I would look at the program and say, does this include explicit, systematic phonics instruction? Do students learn individual letter sounds? Are they organized in a logical scope and sequence? Do students receive a lot of practice? Does it move from words to sentences to text? Kearns said.

But even a well-designed digital program that follows a structured sequence cant replicate the range of activities and feedback that teachers can provide face-to-face. Researchers identified three areas where apps and computer programs can fall short of in-person instruction, and offered suggestions for what to prioritize during synchronous teaching time.

Computers are only able to assess certain types of knowledge. For example, there are different dimensions to knowing a letter, said Holly Lane, the director of the University of Florida Literacy Institute. A teacher could show a student several letters and ask, which one is the letter a? Or, the teacher could also show a student the written letter a and ask students to say the letters name.

These two questions are assessing different kinds of knowledge. But Lane said that digital programs tend to lean more heavily on the formerpresenting two, or a series of options, for students to choose from. Given that, its also possible that students might be able to advance with lucky guesses and not get enough practice with skills that theyre still learning.

A teacher also has more options available for correcting a student mistake and figuring out why the child is making the error, said Natalia Kucirkova, a professor of early-childhood education who studies digital books at the University of Stavanger in Norway and a professor reading and childrens development at the Open University in the UK. Say a student uses the wrong /a/ sound in the word cat. A computer could note the answer as wrong, Kucirkova said, but it wouldnt necessarily be able to explain why cat has a short a as well as a teacher could.

When students are still learning a new skill, its important that they have time to practice in front of a live teacher, not just with a program, Kearns said. Any activity that is better when teachers provide feedback, or when teachers listen to students and adjust instruction in the moment based on student response, thats something that teachers are really essential for.

One of the reasons that digital programs rely on multiple-choice questions, Lane said, is that they cant listen to kids pronounce words in the same way a teacher can.

We are getting toward a point where you can have the computer listen to kids read, and the computer can determine whether the kid says the right word or not, Kearns said, but most programs arent there yet.

Computers also expose students to a smaller range of word pronunciations. In a classroom, kids hear all of the slight variations in how their peers and their teachers say the same word; in a digital program, they often only get one example, said Kucirkova.

Lane raised another potential concern: Some digital programs include playback pronunciations for letters that are slightly off. For example, she said, the recorded voice sometimes pronounces the sound for the letter p as puh, exaggerating the sound to make it easier to hear. But adding the uh sound after /p/ distorts the letters actual sound, she said, and can make it harder for students to understand how to blend p into a word.

While some digital reading programs call themselves adaptive, Kearns said, most dont respond in the moment, moving a child forward or backward based on the answers to individual questions. Instead, they move students on at the end of whole units or sections of the program.

Even if teachers are using digital programs, its important that theyre still involved in initial diagnostic and continuous assessment practices, said Lane. That way, they can make sure that students arent starting with skills that theyve already mastered, or havent skipped over ones that they need more practice with.

Its also important to note that some programs dont give teachers this choice. A 2015 analysis from the Joan Ganz Cooney Center looked at 183 literacy apps in popular app stores, and found that only 17 percent allowed users to select the difficulty level of the program.

In addition to tools for instruction and assessment, many teachers are looking for ways to give students virtual access to a classroom library.

In a traditional school setting, experts suggest, students who are just learning how to read should practice in decodable books. These short texts are written with a high proportion of words that are phonetically regularmeaning they follow common sound-spelling rulesand mostly include words with phonics patterns that children have already learned.

More commonly given to young children, though, are leveled texts. These are books categorized by their perceived difficulty. At the lowest levels, for kids who are just learning to read, these books often feature repetitive text patterns and literal illustrations. While they may include phonics patterns that children have already learned, they arent specifically designed to do so.

Some research has shown that which kind of text students are exposed to more oftendecodable or leveledcan affect how they try to tackle words. Decodable text trains students to sound out words when they read, while predictable leveled text can encourage them to rely on other cues.

Still, decodable books are just one part of the diverse text diet that young students should get, researchers say. Kids should also be listening to stories read aloud and talking about them, which builds their vocabulary, knowledge, and comprehension skills. And they should have access to authentic texts that they can try to tackle as they build their decoding skills.

Outside of these general best practices for text selection, there are specific criteria to look for when judging the quality of digital books.

Digital books for children often come with more features than the standard adult e-reader. Many give the option to hear the story read to you, or to click on specific words and look up their definitions in kid-friendly dictionaries, said Kucirkova. These kinds of scaffolds can be helpful, she said, allowing children who are still developing their decoding skills, or are learning how to read English, to engage with complex stories.

But other technological enhancements are more like bells and whistles, Kucirkova said. Activities that take childrens attention away from the storya game, or a drawing exercise, for examplecan lower their ability to comprehend what they read. It has to do with the cognitive load of the child. It becomes too much to process, she said.

The International Collective of Research and Design in Childrens Books, of which Kucirkova is a member, offers a best practice design framework that has research-based guidelines for creating and identifying high-quality books.

In the EdWeek Research Center survey, two of the materials educators were most likely to say they were using to teach reading online were Epic! and Raz-Kids. Both of those essentially function like online libraries.

Epic! has decodable books and leveled readers both available, as well as other trade books. The site also offers audiobooks.

Raz-Kids is a leveled reading program that uses digital books. Teachers can assign books to students by reading level or on certain topics. The program also includes digital assessments: comprehension quizzes, rubrics that gauge a students ability to retell the story they read, and running records scored using the three-cueing system. (Raz-Kids has recently received criticism for books alleged to perpetuate racial stereotypes. Lisa OMasta, the president of Learning A-Z, which publishes Raz-Kids, said in an interview that these materials have since been altered or removed, and that the company has expanded its review process.)

Teacher knowledge and discernment is important in selecting books, no matter the source, said Kucirkova. Young children can also get more out of the reading experience, she said, if adults in the home are able to read with them.

It is the combination of the human and the digital scaffolding that makes the biggest difference for the childs learning, Kucirkova said.

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How to Use Digital Reading Programs During COVID-19. Teachers Still Matter - Education Week

September 29, 2020 1:00 PM by Eric Bailey

We recently interviewed a variety ofBlack-owned Business Ownersin Santa Monicato hear their unique story and perspectives. Read on to hear about these small business owners throughout our City. This is Part12in a series. If you are a Santa Monica business, and youd like to add your story, emailinfo@santamonica.gov.

As a certified personal trainer accredited by the American Council of Exercise (ACE), Jared Rodriguez bringsto the Palisades Park skylinea brand of fitness that perfectly embodies the Santa Monica lifestyle.Becoming the CEO ofan outdoor fitnessbootcamppermittedin Santa Monicain 2017,Inspired Method, Inc.is helping SantaMonicansachieve the best health of their lives.Read more aboutJared'sstory>>

Business Name:Inspired Method, Inc.

Business Owner:Jared Rodriguez

Brief History:

As an LA native, I was fortunate enough to be raised in a passionate sports family from the San Fernando Valley. At the age of 25, I was a handful of years into my fitness career and had the amazing opportunity to move over the hill and into the westside. Although I am from here, I wasnt very familiar with Santa Monica and all its wonder at the time.Once I was here, I knew I wanted to build something that would inspire, create meaningful community, get results and train outside.

Why did you decide to open a business here in Santa Monica?

I have distinct memories of driving down San VicenteBoulevard, around DowntownSanta Monica;even down Lincoln Boulevardand seeing the most inspiring fit, motivated, and healthy individuals running and working out. I immediately fell in love with the health and fitness culture here and knew I wanted to have a major role in helping, inspiring, and affecting positive change in peoples lives. Thats when I started my Santa Monica business. After years of learning, mistake making, success creating, teaching thousands of sweaty workouts, and improving my abilities as a businessperson,I realized I was finally ready for my next step. I ended up purchasing an outdoor bootcamp business and rebranding it to the 4-Pillar System Inspired Method. Starting my coronation in 2017 was one of the hardest,yet most rewarding things Ive ever done in my life.

What types of products/services do you offer?

Inspired Method is proud to offerthreepremier programs:

Program 1:Inspired Bootcamp

HIIT training, total body work, core focuses at Palisades Park, Santa Monica.

Monday, Wednesday,andFriday6a.m., 7:30a.m., & 9a.m.

Program 2:2-Pillar Challenge

An online Mobility and Strength Masterclass.

Tuesdayand Thursday8a.m.& 9a.m.

Program 3:Kinstretch

An online movement enhancement system developed to increaseusablerange of motion, increase flexibility, and tension release.

Saturdayat 9a.m.

How can the Santa Monica community support you and other Black owned businesses?

Come visit us!We are proud and confidentin our programbecause we have a lot to offer!We can even offer a temporary discount to ALLSanta Monica residentsfor the month of October!

Contact Information:

Website -www.inspired-method.com

Email -info@inspired-method.com

Phone - (424) 625-5913

Hours of operation:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday6a.m.- 11a.m.and4:30p.m.- 6:30p.m.

Tuesday, Thursday- 7:30a.mm10a.m.and5p.m.7p.m.

Saturday9a.m.10a.m.

Looking to sign up for the City's Commercial Fitness Trainer Permit Program? An expanded program will launch on 10/1 to create more opportunities for safe outdoor fitness instruction in compliance with LA County Public Health protocols. Email us at info@santamonica.govand the City team will connect you to the latest info.

Continued here:
Certified Personal Trainer Jared Rodriguez brings a Brand of Fitness that Perfectly Embodies the Santa Monica Lifestyle - santamonica.gov

Norman Swan: Some experts argue that about 50% of dementia is preventable through things like maximising education early in life, keeping your blood pressure down, not smoking, having a good diet, avoiding diabetes and obesity, reasonably intense exercise, maintaining a good social network, and maybe even now Metformin.

Well, a consortium of Australian universities and research centres has just published the results of a randomised trial. This is a randomised trial, not an observational study, into a cocktail of nondrug interventions to see if they help people whose thinking and memory are impaired or declining. Professor Kaarin Anstey is director of the University of New South Wales Ageing Futures Institute and is a senior research scientist at NeuRA. Welcome to the Health Report, Kaarin.

Kaarin Anstey: Hello.

Norman Swan: So tell us about the people you studied in this randomised trial.

Kaarin Anstey: So this trial focused on people who have either subjective cognitive decline or mild cognitive impairment. So subjective cognitive decline is when you feel that your cognition is deteriorating or someone who knows you well thinks that it is but we can't actually identify a change on clinical testing. But it has been shown that that group are actually at increased risk of developing mild cognitive impairment and dementia. So we targeted that group, and then people who also had a cognitive impairment that was clinically assessable.

Norman Swan: So I'm feeling more forgetful, but when I go to a neuropsychologist they don't find anything abnormal.

Kaarin Anstey: Yes.

Norman Swan: And what were the interventions you studied?

Kaarin Anstey: Right, so there was a control condition which was an online educational program that we've developed and assessed in healthy middle-aged adults who are at risk of dementia, and that is an educational module that tells you about dementia and risk factors, we have an educational module about physical activity, one about diet and one about cognitive engagement. And then the intervention group received the same modules but they also had a face-to-face session with an exercise physiologist and two follow-up appointments, and a face-to-face session with a dietician who gave them very tailored dietary advice and followed them up as well. And they were also given a subscription to a brain training package.

Norman Swan: So let's talk about the diet. You were encouraging them to get onto the Mediterranean diet, is that right?

Kaarin Anstey: Yes, that's correct. These systematic reviews have shown that the Mediterranean diet is associated with about a 30% reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease. So that was the diet that was selected for this intervention.

Norman Swan: And the exercise? Did it matter what kind of exercise they were taking? Because I understand it's got to be reasonably intensive to work.

Kaarin Anstey: Well, for this trial what we've done, we've now conducted a few of these Body, Brain, Life trials, and we've got to the point now where we leave the exercise prescription to the exercise physiologist to that it can be tailored to the individual. So we know from systematic review literature that meeting national guidelines is associated with a 30% reduced risk of dementia, which is 150 minutes a week, you know, the usual guidelines that we hear about. But we also know it's very, very difficult to change habit and to get people who are inactive to start exercising. So for this trial we left it to the exercise physiologist to design a personalised program, which we thought was more appropriate and we think that's the way to go in the future.

Norman Swan: And did they stick with the brain training, because people often don't. It's a nice idea but

Kaarin Anstey: That's a really good question. No. So our trial, like also the FINGER trial which is the other very famous multi-domain trial, had poor adherence to brain training. So what we find isand we've seen this in other studies as well, people start off very enthusiastic but they get bored with it. So we had about a 20% adherence to the full program of brain training. Most people started the brain training but they didn't stick with it.

Norman Swan: And what were the results?

Kaarin Anstey: So this trial showed that the people who received the more intensive intervention, they had cognitive improvement at a six-month follow-up.

Norman Swan: So an improvement, rather than just the decline stopping, they actually got better?

Kaarin Anstey: So what we see with cognition is that when we repeat tests, people do better from practice effects. So we tend to see a slight improvement over a period of six months, and in normal ageingwell, with people with cognitive impairment we'd be seeing a decline.

Norman Swan: It seems like a very short time to get an improvement.

Kaarin Anstey: Yes, it was a short time but this is an at-risk group where we are seeingthe reason this particular trial was targeting this group is that we do see conversion from these conditions into dementia. So people with mild cognitive impairment have a 5% to 10% chance of progressing to dementia within 12 months. People with subjective cognitive decline have twice the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment. So this is a group who are at risk of transitioning fairly quickly, which is why they are a key group for intervention.

Norman Swan: Often randomised trials are into single things, like brain training or the diet or the exercise. How valid is the package of stuff? I realise it's more real-world but it also creates its own problems in terms of knowing what works.

Kaarin Anstey: That's a very good question about this whole multi-domain approach. So what has happened in the field of dementia risk reduction is that people did focus on individual risk factors like physical activity, diet et cetera, and we are at the point now where we do have evidence, we've got the WHO guidelines based on the intervention evidence for each of these individual risk factors, but the consensus has been that we really need to target more than one risk factor at a time because we don't know exactly which risk factor is salient for which person, and we think we will get a much bigger effect if we target everything at once. That does mean we can't then go back and unpack and work out for which person which risk factor was important.

Norman Swan: Once you've cracked the egg, you've cracked it. And just very briefly because we are running out of time, Kaarin, you were using the ANU's dementia risk score. Just very briefly, what's this dementia risk score.

Kaarin Anstey: So that's a risk score that I led the development of that was based on data synthesis. So we synthesised all of the literature on risk factors for dementia that was available at the time, and we developed a weighted composite risk score which is freely available and people can go in and assess their risk, and then that was validated against three international cohort studies, including the US Cardiovascular Health Study, the Rush Memory and Ageing Study, and the Swedish Kungsholmen Project, and it was shown to predict dementia in those cohorts, and we've also validated it in an Australian cohort. So we use that as what we call a surrogate outcome measure, particularly in adults or in trials where we are not going to follow-up people long enough to see if they develop dementia.

Norman Swan: Well, we will have a link to the dementia risk score on the Health Report's website. Kaarin, thanks for joining us, that's fascinating work.

Kaarin Anstey: It's a pleasure, thank you.

Norman Swan: Professor Kaarin Anstey is director of the University of New South Wales Ageing Futures Institute and is a senior research scientist at NeuRA.

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Diet, exercise and brain training the cocktail that could help prevent dementia - ABC News

Needless to say, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many of us to significantly change our lifestyles, including the way we exercise. For many, tennis has become a way to get exercise and also be able to maintain a certain level of social distancing that gyms and other forms of group workouts do not. Whether youre new to the sport, looking to reengage after taking some time away from the sport or a seasoned veteran, the Indianapolis Racquet Club (IRC) is ready to serve your needs. The IRC has a complete package of facilities, teaching programs and equipment offerings that is unmatched in the Indianapolis area.

If anyone were to write a history of tennis in the Indianapolis area, it would have to include the significant role that the IRC has played over the years. Opened in October 1965, the IRC for several years hosted the RCA Championships, which included players like Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Manuel Orantes and Arthur Ashe.

Although the IRC can boast of having a rich history of tennis, that doesnt mean that the facilities at the Indianapolis Racquet Club are antiquated. Just this summer, the 24 indoor courts were resurfaced with the same color and exacting specifications that were used for the courts at the US Open this year. Currently, the IRC is the only tennis club in the country that has this cutting-edge quality of court to offer its members.

In addition to having the highest-quality courts in the country, the IRC also has a pro shop that has a history as being recognized as one of the finest in the country. In 2015, the IRC pro shop was named by the Tennis Industry Association as the Tennis Specialty Retailer of the Year.

The IRC pro shop has been headed for the past 24 years by Jeff Rodefeld, director of retail operations. Before coming to the IRC, Rodefeld gained valuable retail experience by working for large retailers such as Macys. If you talk with Rodefeld, you will quickly see that he is as passionate about the game of tennis as he is in maintaining the IRC pro shops reputation as one of the best in the nation. Unlike many pro shops where a tennis pro is giving lessons one minute and then running over to sell someone a racquet before the next lesson starts, Rodefeld has built a team of 15 dedicated professionals that work just in the pro shop who are knowledgeable about the game of tennis and the newest products available in the industry. Remarkably, the average tenure of the folks working in the pro shop at the IRC is 11 years. If you want the advantage of having a seasoned professional advising you on your tennis equipment needs, the IRC pro shop is the place to go.

In addition to its stable of experienced professionals, the IRC pro shop has one of the largest selections of racquets, shoes, clothing and accessories available in the country. According to Rodefeld, the IRC pro shop offers products comprising 20,000 different SKUs to choose from at competitive prices. In fact, the IRC has a policy of price matching with local competitors, big-box retailers and most online tennis specialty stores. Additionally, the IRC offers an initial free stringing on select strings.

What many of you new to tennis may not know, but the experienced player appreciates, is that there is a myriad of combinations of materials and tension formulations that can go into stringing a racquet properly. Unique to the IRC is a staff of four full-time Master Racquet Technicians that have been certified by the United States Racquet Stringers Association to make your racquet play the way it was designed.

While IRC prides itself on offering instruction at the highest levels, it also understands that it has to be fun. As stated by Jamie Dieveney, director of tennis, There are so many ways to have fun with tennis. Our goal at IRC is to offer an amazing tennis experience to all ages and levels of play.

The IRC has 30 professionals on staff to provide the right level of instruction for your game. You would be hard-pressed to find a group of teaching professionals with more experience than the staff at the IRC. The Dean of instruction at the IRC, Prem Gupta, has been teaching members there since 1968.

If youve spent enough time on the couch the past few months and want to give tennis a try, the IRC offers a program called Tennis 101. It is an eight-week program, once a week, that is open to nonmembers and is specifically designed to introduce the basics of tennis to the new player. Think of this program as a tryout or sampler platter to whet your appetite to make tennis a game for the rest of your life.

For those who have advanced from the Tennis 101 level, the IRC offers private instruction and some fun, quicker-paced instructional options. The Live Ball Program is a fast-paced group session that includes a pro offering instruction with an emphasis on strategy and point play while getting a great workout.

For those of you more interested in a cardio workout, the IRC offers its Cardio Tennis. The focus there is less on teaching tennis technique and more on getting that heart rate and cardiovascular system going.

If during this unusual time of social distancing, you have found it harder to get the exercise you need or the competitive juices flowing, call the Indianapolis Racquet Club and let them put you into the proper equipment and instruction level to make tennis a game for the rest of your life.

For more information, visit indyracquet.com.

Writer:

Neil Lucas

Photography:

Submitted and staff

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Indianapolis Racquet Club: Ready to Serve Community, Looking for Safer Way to Stay Active During Pandemic - Zionsville Monthly Magazine

A career as a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) can empower you to improve your community by promoting healthy lifestyles, preventing disease and educating people and whole communities about improving their health.

A chief requirement to become a Certified Health Education Specialist is at least a bachelors degree in community health educationor a similar field. But first, what is community health, and how is it different from public health?

Community health focuses on helping people, communities and organizations live healthier by educating them about the possible risk factors for adverse health conditions.

In a nutshell, its about making sure people know the risks inherent in their day-to-day behavior and planning, implementing and evaluating the effectiveness of health education programs designed to reduce health disparities in a community and improve the quality of life of community members.

Community health education is the ability to promote health and prevent disease, disability and premature death by educating and empowering individuals and communities to change their behaviors to improve their overall health and well-being, said Joi Alexander, community health education adjunct instructor at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). The purpose of community health education is to positively influence the health behavior of individuals and communities, as well as the living and working conditions which influence their health."

Community health isnt exactly different than public health; rather, it is a sub-discipline of public health, according to Dr. Gail Tudor, associate dean of health professions at SNHU.

While community health educators focus on health programs and how individuals choices influence their health and their community, the focus of public health is far more reaching.

Public health professionals try to prevent problems from happening or recurring through promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention, detecting, preventing and responding to infectious diseases, implementing educational programs, recommending policies, administering services and conducting research," Tudor said. "A large part of public health is promoting healthcare equity, quality and accessibility."

The path to becoming a CHES includes a mixture of education, experience and successfully passing a certification exam administered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) to demonstrate competency of the 7 areas of responsibility incumbent on CHES practitioners.

The CHES designation after a health educators name is one indication of professional competency and commitment to continued professional development, Alexander said. In addition, the designation signifies that an individual has met required academic preparation qualifications, has successfully passed a competency-based examination and who satisfies the continuing education requirement to maintain the national credential.

The CHES designation also created a national standard for the practice of health education. While the certification isnt necessarily a requirement to work in the field, some employers do require it, and it tells a potential employer much about your knowledge and experience.

It will tell employers that candidates have received the gold standard in the profession to obtain the knowledge and skills in areas deemed necessary to the field of practice as delineated by the profession, Alexander said.

Health educators work to promote community wellness and educate others about how their behaviors impact their health, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). NCHEC lists several roles that health educators fill in their work within communities, health departments, colleges and universities and more, including:

According to NCHEC, Certified health education specialists working to create programs in their communities may conduct first-hand research by speaking with individuals in their community to understand their needs, or they may be working alongside other healthcare providers and specialists to evaluate studies which can indicate how new programs can benefit their communities.

According to NCHEC, When you have individuals who are passionate about the work they do helping to build up their patients and community, youll see a difference in the results.

According to NCHEC, Many individuals working in health education careers are instrumental in working to evaluate the needs of a community, advocate for essential programming which can benefit their community and work to implement these programs which can impact thousands of people.

Dr. Pamela Varhol, associate dean of healthcare professions at SNHU, said your duties as a health educator can vary depending on the type of organization you work for, but generally fall within the 7 areas of responsibilities covered by the CHES exam. NCHEC lists those responsibilities as:

Alexander said one of the most critical responsibilities for a Certified Health Education Specialist is to increase awareness about how certain behaviors impact their health.

People often lack recognition of habits that may be hazardous to their well-being, such as making poor dietary choices, smoking, neglecting to exercise or overindulging in alcohol, to name a few, she said. Their role is to provide people with information about the effects of such behaviors on their health and emphasize the importance of utilizing prevention practices when applicable.

Health education is important in a variety of ways. Chronic health conditions - those lasting a year or more and requiring online care - are the leading cause of death in the United States. They're also a leading cause of the countrys annual $3.5 trillion in healthcare costs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the CDC, many conditions, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes, can be heavily influenced by personal behaviors, including:

Alexander called community health the intersection of healthcare, economics and social interaction. In addition to the health impacts on individuals, chronic health conditions impact entire communities economically and economically. For instance, according to the CDC:

Of course, not every disease or chronic health condition is preventable. But everyones lifestyle choices can affect their risk factors. Health education specialists work to ensure you have the information to inform those choices and know the potential impact of certain behaviors.

Community health establishes peoples awareness, skills and encourages them to adopt positive attitudes toward their overall health and wellbeing, Alexander said. With an aging population, abysmal maternal mortality rates, increased prevalence of many chronic diseases compounded by escalating medical costs, there is a demand for community health educators who develop and implement strategies that address the health needs of the public.

In 2019, more than 62,000 health education specialists were employed in the United States, making a median salary of $55,220, according to BLS. Government job roles accounted for most of that employment 24% and at state or private hospitals 22%. Through 2028 the field is expected to add more than 7,100 jobs, an increase of 11%, according to BLS.

Health education specialists can also work at many other settings, Tutor said, including community and nonprofit organizations, schools, academia and private businesses.

There is also a wide range of jobs roles and titles that can fall under a health education specialists purview, according to NCHEC, including:

From educating individuals or building classroom curriculums or trainings and even organizing large-scale community or state initiatives, Alexander said, they work with individuals, families and communities, as well as public and private organizations to create, implement, oversee and analyze programs and strategies that promote health and well-being.

Joe Cote is a staff writer at Southern New Hampshire University. Follow him on Twitter @JoeCo2323.

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Community Health Jobs - Southern New Hampshire University

These past six months of pandemic living have been a struggle to say the least. Like the rest of us, the YMCA of Greater Houston is doing its best to manage during these strange times, even though theres been some disorganization and confusing messaging from the local Christian charity and wellness center operator along the way.

Back on September 8, members at the Tellepsen Y in downtown Houston who had rented lockers were abruptly notified via email that the local gym is no longer renting lockers, and were asked to come grab their stuff and take their locks home by the end of the month.

When we reached out to the YMCA of Greater Houston about the new locker policy, a PR rep sent over a statement from an unnamed VP at the Tellepsen Y, who was quoted as saying that as of September 8, lockers will now be day use only at this time so they can be cleaned throughout the day. The statement also said that members who had rented lockers have received refunds.

The Houston Press requested to be put in touch with someone from the YMCA of Greater Houston leadership team to ask some more questions about how its facilities have shifted operations due to COVID-19, but we never heard back after multiple follow-up outreach attempts.

That reminded us of another story we heard from one local YMCA member who went to the Tellepsen Y one September afternoon to empty out his locker as requested. There was one person on the front desk who told him the facility was closed. He explained he was there as instructed. The front desk person took his temperature and granted him access to the locker room. When he came back through and tried to give her his locker number she said it didn't matter.

After the local YMCA closed most of its facilities in the spring due to the coronavirus, it reopened several of its neighborhood wellness centers on June 1 after Gov. Greg Abbott allowed Texas gyms to accept patrons at limited capacity in mid-May.

While its gyms were shut down, YMCA of Greater Houston started sharing workout videos on its YouTube channel that featured YMCA fitness trainers guiding viewers through virtual at-home exercise routines. Even after gyms were allowed to reopen, the local YMCA kept posting virtual workout videos online, and is still uploading new ones on a regular basis.

In the first few months after reopening, reservations were required to use YMCA weight rooms and cardio equipment, and temperature checks were required for all visitors. Starting September 28, the local YMCA loosened some of those restrictions based on guidelines put forth by the Governor as well as recommendations by the CDC and local officials according to an update posted to YMCAHouston.org.

As of Monday, reservations are no longer required to use YMCA gym equipment, but members will still have to make reservations for group exercise classes, swimming pools and the Ys Child Watch childcare services. Social distancing will still be enforced which means some gym equipment might not be available, and the gyms have bumped their occupancy limit up to 75 percent as allowed by the new reopening guidelines Abbott put out two weeks ago.

Masks are still required in common areas, locker rooms, hallways and when not engaged in indoor exercise, as well as for kids ages 10 and up in the Child Watch program.

Temperature checks have also been rolled back, and are now only required at Child Watch and at Y Learning Centers. These learning centers are a new pandemic-inspired YMCA of Greater Houston offering that started in August. Working parents can pay to drop their kids off at a learning center during the school day, where theyll be supervised by YMCA staff as they go about taking their virtual classes.

The YMCA of Greater Houston website says that restrooms, the newly restricted locker rooms and commonly touched surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected at least every two hours, and that extra hand sanitizing stations have been dispersed throughout Y facilities across town.

Not all local YMCA facilities and programs are back up and running at this point a full list of which locations are open along with operating hours can be found at the YMCA of Greater Houstons website.

Schaefer Edwards is a staff writer at the Houston Press who covers local and regional news. A lifelong Texan and adopted Houstonian, he loves NBA basketball and devouring Tex-Mex while his cat watches in envy.

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YMCA of Greater Houston Nixes Long Term Locker Rentals and Loosens COVID-19 Restrictions - Houston Press

By Crystal Reynolds - Sep 29, 2020 |

Donna Alosa works on her balance on a BOSU trainer.

For the Insider

Important: Make sure you consult your health care provider before taking on a new exercise or health and wellness plan. Talk to your doctor if you plan to start something new or more vigorous, especially if you havent been active recently. Once a medical professional gives you clearance, try some of the ideas below:

Being active is important at any age, however as we get older some of the day-to-day tasks that helped us stay active start to become less frequent. Less cleaning, less work, less taxiing around, and less chasing after babies. Websters dictionary defines activity as vigorous or energetic action. So how do we stay active when the activities we are used to doing are gone?

Mental activity

Staying active is not just about physical exercises and activities. It is equally as important to take care of your mind. Multiple times during the day you should take a few minutes to clear your mind. You can do this in many ways. One tried and true method is called box breathing. This is a simple technique that you can do any time to reset, regain focus and relax. Focused breathing calms nerves and relieves stress by helping to regulate the autonomic nervous system. This method focuses on four components of the breath: the inhale, breath hold, the exhale, and breath hold. Box breathing emphasizes control and allows your body to make full use of the air.

Seated option

1. Sit with your back straight against a wall, in a chair or in a meditative posture.

2. Soften your gaze and turn your eyes inward. Focus on your count and your breath (the more you focus on your breathing, the more your mind will clear as its only focus is the task at hand).

3. Inhale through your nose for a count of 4 and hold for same count.

4. Exhale for the same 4 seconds, count and hold again for the same count (force all the air out of lungs).

5. Repeat at least 3 times.

Box breathing has numerous benefits such as mental clarity and focus, increased blood flow to heart and lungs, increased energy, regulation of the nervous system, reduces the effects of anxiety and stress, helps lower blood pressure and heart rate, and improves sleep patterns.

Nutrition

Proper nutrition can go by the wayside as seniors are sometimes cooking for less people or possibly unable to shop for themselves. Health Coach Christine Cook works with seniors and reminds us that it is important to not get into a food rut. Eating the same foods week after week can result in missing out on nutrients. By varying your diet you can ensure that you get a wide variety of vitamins, phytonutrients and minerals. Consider swapping out your tried and true veggies and fruits for some that you may not have had in some time. Your body will appreciate the variety and be healthier for it.

Social health

In addition to proper nutrition, keeping social connections is vital. This includes, family, friends, neighbors, and social groups. If in-person, socially distanced visits are not possible, there are options. Christine suggests that if you have not yet embraced the apps and programs that allow for video visits now might be a good time to learn. Of course, communicating on the telephone is always a great way to stay connected with others too. A bonus is to have a regular day and time you plan to visit. The joy of looking forward to seeing a loved one is just as important to your mental health as the visit itself.

Find balance

Being able to self-regulate stress and anxiety, eating the rainbow during meals, and maintaining human connection are instrumental to staying healthy. It is still essential to be kind to your body and listen to it. Although we dont always listen to our gut, this is one time where respecting that intuition is key. If youre not feeling well, dont push it. Cut back on the time, distance, or intensity of your scheduled exercise. What should exercise look like? It will be different for everyone, however you should start with five to 10 minutes to warm up and make sure to include a cool down. Plan to start slowly and boost your activity level gradually unless you are already exercising frequently and vigorously. Some example of appropriate activities are walking, sports, swimming, dancing, climbing stairs, household chores, and cognitive activities.

Whatever you select, splurge on proper gear! You dont need a lot of active clothing, you just need it to be suitable. Choose clothes and shoes designed for your type of exercise. The clothing should fit you correctly, be moisture wicking or insulating (depending on the season). If you are too hot or too cold, you will most likely not enjoy yourself, potentially cause a secondary problem, or be forced to stop exercising. In New Hampshire we need to dress properly for cold-weather outside workouts to avoid hypothermia. Depending on the temperature, wear layers you can peel off as you warm up (dont forget gloves). Proper footwear is essential too. Just because shoes may look good, doesnt mean they are appropriate or supportive. Be sure to replace shoes as cushioning wears out.

If youre not as mobile or have trouble getting around, there are lots of other options. Learning something new is part of staying healthy. Playing cards, internet games, listening to or playing music, watching movies, gardening, foreign language, and arts and crafts. No matter what your passion is, there are plenty of options to keep your mind and body healthy at any age.

(Crystal Reynolds is one of the owners at 43 Degrees North Athletic Club.)

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Making Good Health Simple: Keeping active through the years - The Concord Insider

Anyone whos kept up with Bravos Real Housewives of Beverly Hills over the past three years knows cast member Teddi Mellencamps proclivity for holding others accountable. Not just in the you didnt come to my event! or are you friends with Brandi Glanville? way but in regard to her actual occupation as an accountability coach.

The mysterious title refers to Mellencamps accountability coaching program called All In by Teddi, a weight-loss system thats faced scrutiny over the past week for its alleged harmful messaging, minimal diet, expensive fees, inexperienced staff, and hostile manner of holding clients accountable for their commitment to the program. While her days as a housewife are confirmed to be over, Real Housewives fans on social media are still demanding answers from Mellencamp as former clients claim they feel traumatized and swindled by her company.

The whistleblowing began in June of last year, when an anonymous person shared their negative experience with All In in a Facebook post that was eventually shared on Reddit. Writer Chrissy Stockton reported on the post in an article for Thought Catalog, and comedians Casey Wilson and Danielle Schneider discussed it on their popular Real Housewives recap podcast Bitch Sesh (in the latest episode, they said Mellencamps camp sent them a cease-and-desist). Fast-forward more than a year later, on Sept. 15, to fashion influencer Emily Gellis Lande, who called similar attention to Tanya Zuckerbrots popular F-Factor Diet, posting Stocktons article on her Instagram and attracting a multitude of personal stories from previous clients in her inbox.

My friend who runs Deuxmoi [an Instagram gossip account] had been posting a few things about All In by Teddi, Lande told me by phone. So I reached out to her. And I was like, whats the deal? Is this on the same scale as the F-Factor stuff? And she was like, yeah, its really bad.

Screenshots of the direct messages can still be found in Landes Instagram highlights. And there are plenty. Former participants complain about the programs limited calorie allowance, strict workout schedule and daily check-ins with assigned accountability coaches that require sending photos of every meal and snack, and, at one point, the clients weight on a scale. Theres also a screenshot of the initial text message sent to clients requesting a photo of them in their bra and undies. Some of these demands are outlined on the All In website, but most require paying for the program to attain full details.

A quick rundown of All In: The first interval of the program, Jumpstart, is the most expensive at $599. For two weeks, participants detoxify and reset their bodies before moving on to the Monthly program ($399 a month), which they can do indefinitely but must commit to for a month before moving on to the Weight and Workout stage ($5.90 a day or $165 a month). This part of the program requires that participants provide daily proof of their weight and finished cardio workouts. And the final, less intense interval Maintenance costs $3.40 a day or $94 a month, and offers simple check-ins and monitoring. Diet plans reportedly vary by client, as determined by accountability coaches.

Seemingly, the most frustrating component in all of thisas seen repeatedly in Landes screenshotsis that All In does not offer refunds and only considers them in the case of an unforeseen medical issue with provided proof within a certain amount of time, according to its site. Not only did past participants claim they felt ashamed and disappointed when they had to quit early or gained all the weight back after they stopped but also believed they were scammed out of hundreds of dollars.

The Daily Beast spoke with several women about their experiences with All In and why they feel they were set up to fail with the program.

When you are living on 500 calories, your body is depleted. I had a hard time accomplishing anything else each day. I went to bed around 7:30 p.m. because I didnt have any energy left.

They dont let you know the menu before you start, said one woman who signed up for All In in 2019 and quit during the two-week jumpstart. I understood this in terms of protecting their program from being ripped off. They let you know that its vegetarian and dairy-free, which I was fine with. But I was really surprised at how little I was allowed to eat.

The former client, who wishes to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation, says she ate approximately 500 calories a day while also burning 500-600 calories a day through cardio. During the 11 days she stayed on the program, she lost a total of 11 pounds.

When you are living on 500 calories, your body is depleted, she said. I had a hard time accomplishing anything else each day. I went to bed around 7:30 p.m. because I didnt have any energy left.

Lisa Moskovitz, a registered dietitian and CEO of the NY Nutrition Group, says that this level of prolonged calorie restriction can lead to a number of major problems including nutrient deficiency, energy deterioration, mood disorders, bone loss, and even gallstones.

Unless under close medical supervision, no one over the age of 2 should eat much less than 1,200 calories a day, said Moskovitz.

Another woman, who did the program for eight or nine days and lost 6-7 pounds, estimates that she ate around 600-700 calories a day.

This seems incredibly difficult on its own, she said. But then pairing it with 60 minutes of cardio a dayits even worse. You also are not told the exact meal plan until you make your payment. And if you quit or slip up, they will drop you immediately without giving you your $600 back.

On the days that I told [my accountability coach] I had severe diarrhea, she still required proof of my workout and pics of my food...

All In has always made the safety and wellbeing of our clients our top priority, and while we certainly encourage feedback as part of our efforts to constantly improve, we strongly object to these claims that our methods and practices were the cause of any of these alleged issues, a spokesperson for Mellencamp told The Daily Beast. Our approach involves around a daily intake of 1100-1200 calories, similar to many other popular (and safe) wellness programs, to help our clients jumpstart a pattern of cleaner eating and more exercise. It is especially disappointing to hear of recent complaints which directly contradict the gratitude, appreciation and enthusiasm many of these individuals had expressed during their time with us, but we will continue moving forward focusing on how we can best serve our clients.

Dana Thorogood, a stay-at-home mother who tried All In in 2018 and quit during the Monthly program, says she ate around 800 calories per day and suffered a series of debilitating side effects.

It didnt take long for some serious side effects and symptoms to occur, she said. Dizzy spells, headaches, extreme body weakness. I also felt very hungry all the time.

Thorogood also says she experienced daily diarrhea from the recommended detox tea and wasnt allowed to take breaks from the program when she felt too sick.

On the days that I told [my accountability coach] I had severe diarrhea, she still required proof of my workout and pics of my food, she said. When I could no longer do the workouts daily because of the symptoms I was having, I was removed from the program and promptly removed from the group text from Teddi.

According to Thorogood, participants are put in a group chat to receive morning messages from Mellencamp.

There was never a mention of a partial refund, she said. But I was told if I wanted to start again next month, I could if I paid again.

The interaction between Thorogood and her accountability coach speaks to a larger red flag regarding All Ins nonprofessional staff. None of the accountability coaches bios on the website include certifications in health and fitness, just an anecdote about their weight-loss journey and experience completing All In. Former clients who reached out to Lande and spoke to The Daily Beast describe coaches as being unhelpful and uninformed when it came to diet and workout instructions, as well as general counseling.

For instance, the woman who said she lost 6-7 pounds on the program says that while the accountability coaches were nice and always pretty encouraging, she remembers being instructed once not to eat carrots because they were high in sugar. And the first woman who spoke in the article said she was lectured by her accountability coach for eating a clementine instead of watermelon, which essentially has the same sugar content.

They tried to be encouraging by sending you random stock quotes from time to time, said another former client who quit the Monthly program last July. But they never said anything profound, and I never felt that they were taking a vested interest in me. The real accountability is not wanting to get kicked off the program and lose your money. I felt like I was more policed than coached.

She also said she felt like her accountability coaches were encouraging unhealthy eating habits.

Something that really bothered me that they promoted [was that] they often said to detach or disconnect from food, she said. That if you went to a family function or holiday party to enjoy the company and not the food, which I just think is total bullshit. Food is meant to be enjoyed. We should have a healthy relationship with food, and the program did the opposite for me.

Its fair to assume that Mellencamps choice to recruit an inexperienced staff might have something to do with her own level of credentials, which arent even displayed on the All In website or in any of her social media bios. After being questioned on Instagram, she stated that shes an American Fitness Professionals & Associates-certified nutrition and wellness consultant. According to the AFPA website, one can receive this certification through an online course that costs $699only $100 more than the first two weeks of her program.

Our coaches are not licensed health professionals and have no healthcare training, said Mellencamp in the same statement. We practice what we preach, and it isnt about certifications. If people are looking for certifications, then they need to go elsewhere. But if they want a helpful, nurturing, supportive accountability coach, theyre in the right place.

Thorogood says she was also thrown off about the way All In accepted payments. Rather than entering her billing information on the website, she says she was told to send payments to a PayPal account and was advised to mark it as friends and family rather than goods and services so as to prohibit customers from requesting refunds or disputing a transaction. Another woman told The Daily Beast that the company accepts its money through PayPal under friends and family as well.

There have also been accusations that the program requires that clients sign non-disclosure agreements, although two of the women who spoke to The Daily Beast said they werent asked to sign one.

Overall, it seems that Mellencamps approach to weight loss, even through the virtuous lens of accountability, hasnt stopped social media users and Bravo fans from pointing out its shallow messaging, specifically the false but popular notion that smaller bodies are inherently healthier and, as All Ins website states, your best self.

Shes a part of the bigger problem of diet culture, said Lande. [Mellencamps] changed lives because [shes] making people skinny? [Shes not] necessarily changing their lives better.

For Moskovitz, shes mostly worried that the lack of bodily autonomy embedded in the program will cause people to spiral into full-blown eating disorders.

Extreme weight-loss diets, especially like All In, are inherently disordered eating, said Moskovitz. Theres weight obsessions, eating rules, and an overall obsession or fixation with losing weight. Truly, there is no difference between that and the definition of disordered eating.

Moskovitz believes All In can at least resolve some of its issues by having licensed medical professionals on staff and doing rigorous eating-disorder screenings before accepting someone into the program.

While I am sure All In has helped and worked for many, it has also significantly harmed others, said Moskovitz. For that reason, it should come with a very obvious warning label, and Teddis team should consider having more credentialed medical personnel to fix the flaws.

Following publication, a spokesperson for Mellencamp provided this additional comment: Applications received from potential new clients with a known history of past eating disorders are only reviewed following confirmation that the individual has been in a successful recovery for quite some time, and from there, participation in the program is determined. Anyone who engages in unhealthy eating habits is strongly advised against submitting an application.

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Four Women Reveal Their Horror Stories of Teddi Mellencamp's 'All In by Teddi' Diet - The Daily Beast

Now that the school year has started, plenty of parents are looking for ways to make sure their kids get the CDC-recommended hour of daily activity. While you may be able to get the kids outdoors to play in your yard or ride bikes in your driveway, you may want to find indoor activities, too. Keep scrolling to get some great ideas on indoor exercise resources for kids.

Rising New York Road Runners Active At Home

Parents, students and teachers can access individual and family activities to keep active with Rising New York Road Runners Active at Home. Kids can also download activities that include photos and instructions in addition to videos from Olympic Medalist Jenny Simpson.

HomeCourt

This app allows kids to master skills for sports like soccer, basketball, football and more, all from your own home. Practice inside, in the garage or backyard, and get feedback from real coaches. You can choose exercises based on different categories like agility drills, ball handling and skill challenges. Find out more over at HomeCourt.

The Little Gym at Home

Missing your Little Gym time? Head online where littles can still enjoy the Hello Song, warm up, movement activities, balls and bubbles, the Goodbye Song and more. Check out a few options at The Little Gym.

Gyminny Kids

Check out daily live streams on Gyminny Kids Instagram and Facebook pages, where kids (and parents!) can enjoy fun classes like dancing, gymnastics, art and story time

YMCA 360

The YMCA is offering free classes to anyone, membership or not. The classes available include the Ys most popular group exercise classes like Boot Camp, Barre, Yoga and low impact programs for seniors. Click here to see the entire list.

Cosmic Kids Yoga

Cosmic Kids Yoga videos are specifically designed for kids ages three and up. They are sorted by age and activity level, so an easy beginner video would be suitable for younger children whereas a more advanced video would be a good fit for your active older child.

Go Noodle

Go Noodle videos keep kids active with silly songs that get kids up on their feet.

Jack Hartman Music Channel

Jack Hartman Music Channel videos incorporate learning activities, such as sign language, math and science with exercise.

The Body Coach

The Body Coach offers videos for all ages and activity levels.

Circletime

Circletime is a site designed for kids ages 0-6. There are a variety of lessons available from sing-alongs to yoga.

Alo Yoga

Alo Yoga offers free 5 minute yoga and meditation videos for kids.

Moovelee

Moovelee videos are perfect for toddlers who need to get moving while they are stuck at home. Adorable animated monkeys will entertain them and encourage them to get up on their feet.

Family Fun Cardio

Family Fun Cardio offers fun videos that will get the entire family up and active together. Featuring challenges with incentives, such as who get to choose what to have for dinner that night, the kids will be excited to workout.

Yoga Ed

Yoga Ed offers a variety of videos from 10 to 30 minutes in length focusing on different yoga practices.

Little Sports

Little Sports features 15 minute videos that incorporate a variety of exercises.

KidzBop Dance Along

KidzBop Dance Along lets your kids have a dance party in your living room.

Vibras Meditation

Enjoy livestream mediation for kids from Vibras Meditation on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Great for kids four to 11, classes take place via Zoom and include new routines every class.

Retro FItness

Head to the Retro Fitness Facebook page for family-friendly workouts.

Jennifer Swartvagher

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Virtual Yoga and Exercise Programs That Will Get Your Kids on Their Feet - Red Tricycle

Between personalized exercise programs or exclusive, eco-friendly wellness retreats, there are so many ways to improve your wellbeing mentally and physically.

We take a look at the top five luxury health and wellness trends that you might want to try out:

The popularity of wellness retreats is continuing to rise with people looking to travel further afield for experiences and treatments to transform and detox their body and mind. As more of us find ourselves living and working in urban areas, theres a trend towards reconnecting with nature and escaping busy lives.

Retreats around the world are offering everything from holistic treatments, yoga, and meditation, to wellness programs designed to improve sleep, fitness, and relieve stress. And more often than not, retreats are eco-friendly, trying to reduce their environmental impact at the same time as improving wellness.

With easy access to streaming services, online instructor-led classes, and interactive workouts theres no excuse not to fit in a home workout into your daily routine.

And these classes involve far more than a few lunges in your living room. You can invest in professional gym equipment like indoor bikes to join virtual spin classes, hire personal trainers for remote sessions, and join exclusive fitness programs designed to deliver an effective workout within your home.

More traditional fitness classes are also changing alongside a rise in boutique fitness studios. There are classes that focus on working out in pairs to build friendships or use the latest high tech gym equipment. And, for something a bit more extreme, there are Extinction Training classes.

Sometimes you need a little help and guidance when it comes to your wellbeing, and it can be worthwhile turning to a coach for this outside support. Whether its to achieve a specific personal or professional goal, or more general guidance, breakthrough coaching is one such coaching method that offers a way to transforming and improving your life. Working with a coach often provides accountability, resources, and reassurance to keep you on track.

This health and wellness trend covers a broad range of things, but it all comes down to the idea of altering your body to improve your physical and cognitive performance. Its completely personalized to each individual and can start by looking at genetic, blood, and allergy testing.

While there are some simple biohacking tricks that can be tried at home, the treatments offered at exclusive biohacking clinics include anything from electric muscle stimulation training and light therapy to stem cell injections.

A little less futuristic, but still innovative, is the trend towards personalized health and fitness programs. Many places will now offer DNA and blood testing, as well as analyzing your body type and other fitness considerations to create a nutrition and exercise plan thats designed exclusively for you. And regular multivitamins are being superseded by the rise of bespoke supplements based on thorough consultations and testing.

If youre looking for new ways to improve your health and wellness, with cutting edge technology and professional help, these luxury trends are a good starting point.

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5 Top Luxury Health And Wellness Trends To Look Out For - Upscale Living Magazine

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