CHRIS PEDOTA / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Giants linebacker Spencer Paysinger watches as assistant strength coach Markus Paul helps Mamiko Swanson on one of the new exercise machines.
TENAFLY[1] — The New York Giants on Tuesday brought a game plan for physical fitness to Tenafly[2] Middle School, helping to dedicate a new fitness center at the school.
“We just want to motivate them to be active,” said Giants left tackler Will Beatty, whose appearance, along with those of teammates Markus Kuhn, Spencer Paysinger and Terrell Thomas, drew raucous cheers.
Thomas, a cornerback, observed. “It’s just good to get kids active.”
He recalled that when he was young he spent a lot of time playing outside, whether biking or playing baseball and basketball. “Now everyone plays Wii and X-box and Instagram,” he said ruefully.
The event was the culmination of the school’s participation in the Play 60 Challenge, an NFL campaign aimed at encouraging children to be physically active for at least an hour a day. Several team players visited the school during the year to encourage the kids to adopt healthy habits. The event also was part of the United Way Hometown Huddle, an annual NFL-wide day of serving that provides NFL players, coaches and staff a variety of community services activities.
The Giants have thus far visited five New Jersey schools as part of the program, including in Little Falls[3] , Nutley[4] and Lyndhurst[5] , to urge students to increase their daily physical activity.
The NFL donated $30,000 to Tenafly[6] Middle School, which was mostly used towards developing the new fitness center — dubbed the “Youth Fitness Zone” — from a room that previously housed the woodshop. The room includes aerobic and cardio equipment, heart rate monitors and other machines.
“This is something we’ve always wanted,” said a beaming Susan Toth, who teaches physical education. “Our kids can’t normally use a place like this because most fitness centers aren’t open to kids this age.” She said the students would use the state-of-the-art center as part of physical education class as well as for after school workouts.
Markus Paul, the Giants’ assistant strength and conditioning coach, trained the students on how to use the new ab benches, arm lifts and shoulder presses.
“Every workout starts with a warm up,” he advised, noting that many injuries occur because people don’t use good technique. He also told students that “the body’s core temperature must go up to avoid injury. When your muscles are warm, they are more pliable.”
References
- ^ TENAFLY (www.northjersey.com)
- ^ Tenafly (www.northjersey.com)
- ^ Little Falls (www.northjersey.com)
- ^ Nutley (www.northjersey.com)
- ^ Lyndhurst (www.northjersey.com)
- ^ Tenafly (www.northjersey.com)
No comments :
Post a Comment