5 Reasons You should Train with your Teenager

With the arrival of our baby girl, Alaya, over the summer, I have admittedly been doing more baby burps than burpees. I'm keen to get back into shape of course, and have given myself a pretty realistic goal of this summer to return to my regular weight and importantly, my usual strength, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness. As such, there is no time better to resurrect one of my students' favourite classes: Fit 'n' Fierce. This time, I'm mixing things up and making it family friendly.

I've wanted to create a family class for a while. Not all teenagers are embarrassed by their parents: I remember as a 13 or 14 year old, doing boxacise after karate on a Saturday morning, and wishing that my Dad would get off the bleacher and join us. Whether it's ball sports, jogging, dancing, yoga or martial arts, here are five very good reasons to get off the bleacher and exercise with your teenagers:

1. Bonding. This one is so important for families of young children. Here, in Jan Juc where I live, there are always families out and about on bike rides, walks and surfing. So why does it stop just because your little ones have hit the dreaded double digits (seemingly overnight)? Here's something your teenager probably won't tell you: she still loves you and wants to spend time with you, just maybe not with her friends around. Exercise reels in your family members from the shadowy nooks of your home: the darkened TV room, bedroom corner or study. Exercise, particularly classes, gives your family a certain place to be at a certain time, with something to do. The outcome of that is bonding.

2. Open lines of communication. Communication is a natural extension of bonding - and there is perhaps no more important time to keep communication lines open than when your kids become teens. Whether it's a long walk through a park or a fun day out at sea kayaking, you will naturally talk to those you are with, so why not make that your family? If your exercise of choice is so high impact that you probably won't talk (only to mumble to your coach that if he makes you go that extra round, you'll keel over or vomit or die or something), you will be surprised how the adrenaline rush and endorphins will encourage your teenager to open up to you on the car ride home.

3. Set an example. It's amazing how parents encourage their kids to eat healthily, exercise and live a balanced life without taking on board their own advice. I believe the best time to be a glowing example of health to your children is from day dot - but it's never too late. (My parents only joined the gym later in life, and they go about four or five times a week.) Show your teenagers that you can be energetic and strong - and that you are willing to give new things a go. It helps them see you in a new light, and hopefully, greater respect will follow.

4. Shared achievements. It is terrific that goal-setting is a topic that is pretty commonplace in the classroom nowadays, but rarely do parents and their teenagers have personal goals in the same field. (The exception is perhaps house renovations or bedroom makeovers, but let's face it, just getting them to put dirty laundry in the hamper is an achievement!) Reaching weight loss goals, achieving that next karate belt or stripe, or finally being able to do ten full push-ups: while the specifics of goals may be different between you and your teenager, the experience is shared. And so is pride.

5. Reduce screen time. Almost all parents of teenagers I talk to wish their kids would spend less time in front of the computer, TV, tablet or phone, and more time engaging in productive pursuits. Even if your teen is in front of the computer for homework reasons, exercise will give him the opportunity to have a break, and perhaps see things from a new angle. New solutions and greater creativity may edge their way in from just one hour at distancing himself from his studies, and focusing the body, breath and mind on something different. If your teen is addicted to devices and social media, exercise may help her break the habit as she re-familiarises herself with human-to-human contact. After all, wouldn't you prefer a real (albeit sweaty) hug from your teenager than a texted hug emoji? 🤗

Exercising with your teenagers may be daunting at first, particularly if they are a fair bit fitter than you! But it is almost always parents who are responsible for taking that first step - and this time, it's literal. By training with your teenagers, you are impressing upon them good habits that will take them into young adulthood. Hopefully, they will look back at these times of long walks, basketball, cricket, cycling or boxing as fun times with you - and establish such positive habits with their own children.

Don't have teenagers? Fit 'n' Fierce may still be for you! Feel free to contact Sensei Sheryn.

You are a teenager and can't imagine anything worse than training with your parents? That's okay too - Fit 'n' Fierce is still open to you!