West Midland Family Center

Fitness at WMFC is "Centerwide"! The fitness agenda at WMFC has many faces. Each program approaches physical activity in a way that is most meaningful to the designated population. There are however a few commonalities. Fitness activities are always fun, always get people moving and always promote a more healthful lifestyle. The following is a snapshot of fitness activities that are woven into everyday occurrence at The Center. Preschool Preschool teacher, Wendy Plewa, incorporates Pilates and other movement breaks periodically throughout each day to create an appreciation for fitness among our youngest citizens. Pilates exercise uses controlled movements and breathing to help focus and develop core muscles. Wendy said, “Pilates has proven to be very helpful in directing all that special energy preschoolers produce. It really facilitates relaxation which helps the children not only to focus, but helps to sooth and calm down their inner being as well. They’ve had fun discussing the Pilates movements and the importance of being fit.” After School Program, Elementary and Teens Our After School Program follows the Conscious Discipline (CD) curriculum, which contends that routine helps kids feel safe, and that there are four components to routines. Included among these components are activities to disengage the stress response. Gross motor activities involve the group of large muscles that control the head, shoulders, arms, back, abdomen and feet and help to disengage the stress response. Healthy gross motor skills facilitate the proper development of fine motor skills. So each day in After School Program finds young children engaged in such activities as Duck-Duck-Goose, Scooter Safari, fort building, or stretching. All of these activities keep children moving, and fit while actively enhancing their gross motor development. The focus for the teens is more about getting them moving and engaged. Each week the teens are offered a menu of physical fitness options. From these, the teens vote for the fitness activities which most appeal to them. Among the activities they have chosen are football, ultimate Frisbee, broomball and outdoor shelter building. The goal is to get the teens moving, break the technical gadget habit and help them discover activities they love that bring them a mind, body, spirit connection. Seniors Currently the seniors are engaged in a Wii bowling tournament. There are four; four-person teams each with two alternates. This fitness activity is designed to enhance movement and provide opportunities for social interaction. Greendale Site Director, Tammy Jerome stated that several of the participants have significantly improved their scores. Seniors also participate in Low Impact Physical Activity (LIPA). LIPA focuses in on bone strength, walking and stretching. This group is lead by Silvana Spindler and assisted by Susan Wells. Silvana has a degree in Physical Education and is volunteering her time to provide this exercise program. Beginning Line Dancing instruction is held at 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Mondays. For details about these programs contact Tammy at 832-3256. Staff Fitness Challenge Each September begins a new fitness challenge for the staff at WMFC, spearheaded by Aquatics and Recreation Director Renee Allen. ‘The Challenge’ provides good-natured competition among staff members and just the motivation needed to stay fit through the long Michigan winter. Independently or with others, staff members participate in fitness activities, record time spent engaged in an activity and report their time each month. Participants become eligible for a prize drawing for that occurs at ‘The Challenge’ wrap-up in the spring. All prizes are participant donated. Speaking to the benefits of this program, staff member Lois Burton said, “I was amazed how much better I felt after participating. I simply walked on every break I had and it really made a difference. My blood pressure dropped making me feel calmer and healthier. It’s a great thing to do.”