by From May 16 to August 31 as part of the summer high school pass, teens will be able to go to the local Planet Fitness to lift weights, improve their cardiovascular health and experience the benefits of serotonin boosting exercise. with friends. (Just pre-register online, wait for the registration information to appear in your inbox and start sweating).
Getting a free gym membership is definitely a great way to get out of the house, but it also makes physical activity more fun and accessible for high school kids. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children and teens ages 6 to 17 have 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity a day, but about 77 percent of teens do not meet this limit.
This lack of exercise can affect the mental and physical well-being of teens: There are so many lifelong benefits to your sweat, from reducing the risk of certain types of cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes, to alleviating feelings of depression. of self-esteem. In short, what teenagers learn in the gym goes far beyond the biceps curl.
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A free gym membership can move the needle especially for teenagers. According to the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF), by the age of 14, girls are leaving the sport at twice the rate of boys. The WSF attributes this staggering statistic to a number of factors, including social stigma, lack of standards, and the fact that girls have 1.3 million fewer opportunities to play high school sports than boys.
While subscribing to Planet Fitness may not necessarily close this gap during the school year, it can ensure that girls have a safe place to move around and explore what’s good for their bodies in the summer. And, of course, the years leading up to adulthood are essential for exploring the types of exercise that will accompany you throughout your life (even when you spend these lazy, hazy summer days working in an air-conditioned office).
The summer break is in session.
Not sure where to start at the gym? Try this beginner-friendly strength and mobility routine:
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