The Gift of Health
 
In the midst of family and friends, and a break from normal routine, the holidays are a perfect time to reflect on what we value most in life. Where do we gain strength to be the best we can be? How can we best spend our energy every day?
Heart attack survivors climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro are challenging themselves and others to reflect on the gift of their health. "There is life after heart disease, especially if you take control of your life [and make] healthy decisions," said organizer Dr. Robert Gillio. Virtual participants are encouraged to identify their own health "mountain," and to set a course for surmounting it.
The gift of health is one of many to value this holiday season. All of us at Fizika Group wish you a blessed holiday full of health, wellness and warmth.
Martha Harris
President/Founder
Michael Cordier
Vice President/Founder
|
|
Wellness Tips: Keep Health in Your Holiday
Enjoying the holidays doesn't have to mean sacrificing healthy habits. Make good food and physical activity part of your safe and healthy holiday.
- Choose healthy options for your holiday meals.
- Encourage fun physical activity in your family, school and community.
- Follow these guidelines to keep everyone safe during holiday fun.
- Very importantly, take care of yourself and reduce holiday stress.
|
|
Michelle Obama Promotes Walking & Biking to School
In a November 18 "Let's Move!" speech to students in Newark, NJ, First Lady Michelle Obama emphasized the importance of daily exercise.
"We're working to get more nutritious breakfasts and lunches and snacks into school lunchrooms ... . We're trying to get kids to exercise more every day -- at recess, at gym, and by walking and biking to school and maybe doing some more stuff at home."
Find out how you can promote safe walking and biking to school in your community!
|
|
Greetings!
Welcome to the Fizika Group newsletter! We invite you to become engaged in a community of teachers, administrators, health professionals and parents seeking new solutions for truly effective health and physical education programs, and tools for maintaining wellness at any age. |
 Learning in Motion
"When the fun ends, the learning ends," said Debby Mitchell, founder and CEO of the GeoMotion Group, an innovative fitness and learning leader that brings physical activity into schools. Based on the observation that by nature children love to move, Mitchell, retired professor of sports and fitness at the University of Central Florida, shaped a multi-faceted program that uses movement to maximize academic learning.
"We focus on the whole child, with physical, mental and emotional aspects working together and helping each student build their confidence," said Mitchell. Physical activity has been proven to increase retention of information, and also reduces stress. "And exercise just makes you feel better!" she emphasized. And with childhood obesity at epidemic levels, increasing physical activity has never been more critical.
 GeoMotion curriculum and products are based on the observation that by nature children love to move.
GeoMotion offers three curriculum categories called GeoDance, Learnercise and GeoFitness, incorporating music, dance and activity mats that are used as learning aids. Lesson plans and instructional DVDs provide flexibility, with opportunities for teachers to incorporate activity into all subjects. "Our motto is 'Move to achieve,' and that's what we want for each child," said Mitchell.
Learn more about how your students can Move to Achieve!
|
Fizika On The Move
 In January 2011, a group of cardiac arrest survivors will climb Tanzania's Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest peak. In a project initiated by Fizika partner Innerlink, students throughout the United States are invited to participate virtually, and to identify their own health "mountain," while also learning to make healthy life choices.
Join the team by reaching a virtual summit of the mountain experience online and making improvements in your own health goals.
Five base camps provide resources and markers along the way. Students make a goal, plan and track their results, and share what they have learned with others. The goal is to increase the physical activity of students, school staff, and parents.
Find out more about how you can get involved!
Fizika On The Road
 | | Becky Deihl explains equipment at the PSAHPERD Convention. |
Fizika will be conducting professional development workshops in early 2011 focusing on excellence in PE programming. The one-day workshops are scheduled for Kansas and Pennsylvania, with plans for Arizona in process. Fizika's Manager of Professional Development and Training, Becky Diehl, with representatives of several of our partners, will discuss current best practices, lead interactive group sessions and demonstrate innovative equipment. Click the links below for more details about these training opportunities.
Kansas
Pennsylvania
|
Great News for Children's Health
 After more than two years of debate and countless hours of advocacy by hundreds of organizations, the House of Representatives voted strongly and in bipartisan manner to send the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act to the President for signature. This bill marks a significant move to bring healthier food into schools. Thanks are due to the hundreds of people who testified and educated their Members about the importance of this major legislation that will help alleviate hunger and reduce one of the primary causes of childhood obesity -- poor nutrition in schools.
|
|
|
