Stroke School is a fantastic option for kids ages 6 – 12 who like to spend time in the water. We offer these classes year round so even through the winter, swimming can be a part of your kid’s lives.

Many young swimmers excel in school as swimming often helps them with focus, concentration and time management. They can stay in shape for their summer league swim season by attending Stroke School just once a week during the off-season. They can maintain a healthy weight and stay active, fit and healthy while they enjoy their time in the pool. They can bring a friend and make it a fun afterschool activity while reaping all the benefits of a healthy and fun childhood.

Please contact Katie at x325 for information about the classes and to see if your kids would be a good fit for this fantastic program.

How can you tell when you’re exercising at the right intensity? According to the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines, moderate-intensity physical activity means working hard enough to raise your heart rate and break a sweat, yet still being able to carry on a conversation. However, some experts have speculated that if you’re able to speak comfortably, you’re probably not working hard enough. A study was recently conducted at the University of New Hampshire to determine whether the “talk test” is a suitable way to determine exercise intensity.

For the study, fifteen participants performed a series of treadmill exercises at different intensities. They were asked to recite the Pledge of Allegiance during the various exercise bouts and rate then their comfort level while speaking. They could choose either, “comfortable,” “not sure,” or “not able to speak comfortably.” Researchers also measured various physiological markers, fatigue, and heart rate. They found that the talk test was a very accurate way to determine whether participants were engaging in moderate or intense exercise. If participants were able to speak comfortably, they were exercising at a moderate pace, which helps improve fitness levels.

To learn more about the American College of Sports Medicine exercise guidelines, visit their homepage.

Quinn and Coons. (2011). The Talk Test and its relationship with the ventilatory and lactate thresholds. Journal of Sports Sciences, 29(11), 1175-1182.

IHRSA Health eReview, volume 12, issue 9

Although conventional wisdom would lead one to believe that older people become less fit as they age, it’s not always the case. New research from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology shows that when it comes to fitness, age is just a number. According to their study, a 50-year-old can be as physically fit as someone up to 30 years younger. However, as you may have guessed, exercise is a key factor.

For this study, researchers examined information from 4,631 healthy men and women (ages 20-90) from Norway’s biggest health database, to determine their level of fitness. All participants underwent laboratory tests in to check their peak oxygen uptake, which is the most reliable measure of cardiovascular fitness. They found that some avid exercisers who were in their fifties were more fit than people in their twenties, who barely exercised or were sedentary. They key, according to researchers, was to maintain a regular physical activity regimen, even for older people.

Aspenes, et al. (2011). Peak Oxygen Uptake and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in 4631 Healthy Women and Men. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 43(8), 1465-74.

from IHRSA Health eReview, volume 12, issue 9