By Mary Aperika
Exercise, by helping you sleep better and easing anxiety, can relieve the negative effects of stress on your body. Many regular exercisers also find that they can focus constructively on problems during or after a bout of exercise.
The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn. Exercise improves mood, boosts energy, promotes better sleep, and combats health conditions and diseases.
These were the concerns of the Chief Executive Officer of Pilates Studio Accra, Cida Ferreira, who is advocating for children to have regular exercises to build up their systems. She stated that physical activity is crucial for overall health and well-being, especially for children and teenagers during their adolescence period.
“I will suggest that you exercise at least four times in a week. Walking is a good exercise and usually an entry point into other kinds of physical exercises. Physical exercise is equally good for the children because it gives them a break from classroom sitting. It also refreshes their minds and body and gives them fresh energy and a strong mind to engage in academic activities,” Ferreira stressed.
Pilates for young children is a modified form of Pilates that focuses on developing body awareness, balance, coordination, and flexibility in a fun and engaging way. It helps children improve posture, build core strength, and enhance concentration through gentle, controlled movements. Pilates can also support healthy physical development, improve motor skills, and instill positive movement habits that contribute to long-term well-being. It is a safe, low-impact activity suitable for children of various fitness levels.
“When you take part in physical activity, you burn calories. When children are physically active, it provides numerous benefits, such as improved physical health, enhanced mental well-being, and better academic performance,” she emphasised.
These came to light when the CEO of Pilates Studio Accra, based in the capital city of Ghana, visited the Nangodi Community in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region with some packs of sanitary pads for JHS adolescent girls. She also held a Pilates session with the pupils, the first ever in the northern part of the country.
