25 Days for Free!

Good news - the weather has finally broken! We’re no longer layered up at baseball games and soccer practices with hoodies and blankets. Bad news – we can no longer hide under those layers!  As you sort through your summer wardrobe it’s normal to feel a bit anxious. You might break into a nervous sweat just thinking about putting on tank tops and shorts.  These clothes tend to reveal how many times we cheated and had “just one more bite” of that delicious dessert. They’re also proof that we’ve spent more time on the couch catching up on our DVR recordings and less time getting up and being active. But have no fear - CHHRC is here to help!

We have a wonderful opportunity for you to, not only feel more comfortable in your summer wardrobe, but to make a difference in the lives of a hungry family or under privileged children in Camden.  How? Simply make a $25 donation to the Food Bank of SJ or UrbanPromise and we’ll give you an honorary 25 day membership to our entire 160,000 square foot family health club absolutely FREE! It’s a win-win situation for everyone!

“With a $25 donation, we are able to provide and an entire month of summer camp for an under privileged child at no cost to the family!” ~ Shannon Oberg, Creative Director UrbanPromise. Since 1988, their mission has been to equip Camden's children and young adults with the skills necessary for academic achievement, life management, spiritual growth, and Christian leadership. They strive to fulfill this mission through after-school programs, summer camps, two schools, experiential learning, job training, and a host of other programs that challenge youth to develop and realize their potential.

“1 out 4 children in South Jersey goes to bed hungry every night. A $25 donation provides 125 meals for children who may otherwise go without. $50 provides food for 250 meals. A special gift of $150 will provide food for a year’s worth of meals for 2 hungry kids in South Jersey” ~ Yarissa Ortiz Reyes, Food Bank of South Jersey Director of Strategic Marketing and Business Development. The Food Bank of South Jersey and its network of 200+ food pantries and meal kitchens have been here since 1985 providing prepared meals and groceries to people in need. From humble beginnings in a small warehouse in Camden City to our present 65,000 square foot distribution center in Pennsauken, we are the last safety net for those in need.

Your donation not only helps those in need, but gives you access to almost 100 group exercise classes a week including (INSANITY, PIYO and P90X), yoga/pilates, tennis & racquetball courts, personal training, youth programs, summer camps, Parisi Speed School and so much more!

Sign up today! Go to www.chhrc.com/donate25 and change the tomorrow of those less fortunate than us.

Fitness Improves Children's Academics

It won’t be long before summer break is over and school is back in session. Parents are already buying supplies and clothes to get ready for the start of another school year. As households begin to shift from vacation mode to school routines and studies, new research suggests that children who are fit are not only healthier, but have an advantage when it comes to learning.

Do fitter children do better academically? They do according to researcher, Sudhish Srikanth, a student at the University of North Texas. Srikanth recently presented his findings to the American Psychological Association.

1,211 students were tested from five Texas middle schools. Researchers looked at each student’s academic self-concept -- how confident they were in their abilities to do well -- and took into account the student's socioeconomic status.

They knew these two factors would play a role in how well the students did, Srikanth says.

They took into account other influences such as social support, fitness and body composition. What they discovered matched what other studies have found – kids who are fit tend to do better academically than kids who are not fit.

The findings are considered preliminary since they have not undergone the “peer review” process. But other research suggests why fitness is so important, says researcher Trent Petrie, PhD, director of the Center for Sport Psychology at the University of North Texas.

"Physical fitness is associated with improvements in memory, concentration, organization, and staying on task," he says.

For one to five months before the students took standardized reading and math tests, they answered questions about usual physical activity, their view of their school ability, their self-esteem and social support.

The researchers assessed the students' fitness. They used a variety of tests that looked at muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, aerobic capacity, and body composition.

Previous studies have found a link between fitness and improved school performance, Srikanth says. However, this new study also looked at several other potential influences.

For the boys, having social support was also related to better reading scores.

For the girls, a larger body-mass index was the only factor other than fitness that predicted better reading scores. The researchers are not sure why.

For both boys and girls, fitness levels were the only factors studied (besides socioeconomic status and self-concept) related to math scores.

Srikanth found an upward trend, with more fitness linked with better scores.

The new research reiterates that of James Sallis, PhD, distinguished professor of family and preventive medicine at the University of California, San Diego. A long-time researcher on physical fitness, he reviewed the findings.

"The mountain of evidence just got higher that active and fit kids perform better in school," he says.

The finding that fitness was related to both reading and math scores in both girls and boys is impressive, he says. "That's strong evidence."

"I hope this study convinces both parents and school administrators to increase and improve physical education, recess, classroom activity breaks, after-school physical activity and sports, and walk-to-school programs."

For about a decade now, PE classes and recess time have been disappearing from public school programs. Budget cuts and time restraints are often the reasons sited. Testing also seems to be one of the main reasons gym classes and play time have been reduced or eliminated. Some parents and caregivers take advantage of after-school fitness programs, but that option isn’t available or affordable for everyone.

So as schools move farther away from offering physical fitness programs, parents have to become more proactive in helping their kids stay active and fit. As it turns out, a fit body is not only good for the heart, but the head as well.

Source: http://children.webmd.com/news/20120803/fitter-kids-better-grades

The baby boom generation has redefined the 50-and-over lifestyle from one that’s simply meant for relaxing and enjoying later years to one resembling the pre-50 lifestyle. This generation simply wants to be active in their later years, but the only way to do this is by getting and staying in shape. Many health problems were traditionally attributed to the aging process, but studies have shown that some health problems in those over age 50 are actually a result of inactivity and neglect of the body.

According to the American Council on Exercise, being physically fit in your senior years will keep people healthier and active longer. So how can people who are over 50 years old get fit and stay in shape as a senior? As with any exercise regimen, they should check with their doctor prior to starting to ensure they are in a healthy state to begin exercising. Once getting doctor approval, they should consider some of these tips:

• Always join a reputable health club with certified staff and trainers.
• Choose a health club with experience with members over 50 years of age.
• Be sure the health coach or trainer gets their medical and family history before planning a fitness program, as well as inform him/her of any health concerns they may have.
• Make sure the health coach or trainer fully understands their personal health goals.
• Listen to what their body is telling them. If they feel any discomfort, pains, headache, or dizziness, slow down or stop.

If you are interested in learning more about living a healthy lifestyle after 50, contact Cherry Hill Health & Racquet Club today. We have years of experience in fitness and wellness, and employ certified trainers with experience in helping members over 50 achieve their fitness goals.