Kids. Start. Now.

By the end of this summer, there will be a Baby Arledge. This little one will be introduced to movement at a very early age just like the baby's parents. I cannot reveal the gender because only God, the two stenographers, and myself know the gender. Many have guessed correctly and incorrectly, but it is so fun to not flinch when someone guesses either way. I promised my wife that I would not torture her about the gender and vice-versa.

A couple of years ago, I shared a YouTube video called "Babies Have the Best Squats." They do. Look at a baby squat and it is perfect: feet flat, deeps bent, back up, and head up or down if they are looking in sand. They would make good powerlifters since they can sit deep into their squats. That is, they can go below 90 degrees. The average adult...well, I do not know the average degrees that an adult can squat. However, it is not 90 degrees with good form, which should be the norm and is equivalent to sitting in a chair.

Am I saying that we cannot sit in chairs with proper form? Yes. But, this talk is not the focus.

What's going on? We need to continue the consistency with activity and movement throughout development. Our main motivation should be...life itself. Our main non-motivational reasons should include...nothing at all. We should not be unmotivated, but it happens and is understood. Actually, I should say that we should not have excuses. Yes, our main non-motivational reason should include...no excuses!

And, it all starts with youth.

This topic is vast. So, if you do not consider yourself between the ages of birth and 17, then you can still keep reading. Our youth is with us until we leave this earth. Youth is not an age. It is mindset among other things. In our younger ages, on the other hand, we can move a lot better. True. It is fact that we can rejuvenate ourselves even we some of us think our bodies are old and decrepit  hearing cracks, creaks, and feeling decreased ranges of motion. Somewhere in our pre-adolescent years, we stop moving with as much durability as in our toddler years. Somewhere in our high school years, we completely give up fitness and sports. Somewhere in college, we ask "what is movement?" When we reach the roaring 20's and parental 20's and 30's, everything else takes over maintenance of our bodies. It is easier for some individuals to keep up the sweat throughout life. Understood. With this statement mentioned, there is space for the unmotivated to kick their active self into gear. But, by all means pass on the activity to the new generation; so other future generations can share the good experience.

Running, jumping, or even playing starts right now for kids. Running, jumping, and playing starts right now for adults with the "even though". Even though many of our 206 bones or 642 muscles may ache, there are modifications. Look at each age group and realize that the amount of desire to move is different.

It is OK because there is a lot of room to improve proper activity as time permits.

Purpose and Development,
Derek

Derek Arledge, CSCS          TEEM Performance Training          www.teempt.com