Fit4Fun - Fun and Fitness Centre
Fit4Fun, Kuwait’s premier fitness center for kids and teens, recently held a press conference to highlight the importance of exercise to holistic development of children in the country.
Opening the conference, Peter Fitz, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Fit4Fun in Kuwait, said that the high level of obesity among children in the country should be a matter of concern for everyone with a stake in the wellbeing of children. Parents, teachers, health professionals, the government and others involved should be made aware of the key role of regular exercise to children’s future.
Attributing a direct link between exercise and overall physical and mental growth of children, Mr. Fitz stressed the importance of exercise in developing basic motor skills, strengthening muscles, heart, and immune system. Scientific studies, he said, have confirmed that physical activity also improves concentration, motivation and learning abilities. In fact, exercise is the single most powerful tool to optimize brain function.
According to the new brain research over the past years, exercise increases blood flow to critical regions of the brain including the hippocampus, which plays a major role in memory and learning. Enhanced blood flow to the brain also helps in the production of new brain cells as well as nerve cells that send and receive electrical signals to and from the brain. Not only does regular exercise help children pay better attention in school, it also helps them concentrate better at their home work, and focus more when they study.
Speaking on the occasion, Shaima Nabeel Al Mulla, co-founder of Fit4Fun, said that it was very important to encourage a healthy lifestyle in children from an early age. The exercise regimen and eating habits that children develop when young remains with them to their adult life and they are also likely to pass it on to their children in future.
Regular exercise should also be made more appealing to children by making exercise a fun-filled activity. In many schools weekly drill periods are usually assigned to the later part of the day; on the contrary, children should be engaging in physical exercise early in the morning. This bout of physical activity in the morning will help boost their mental activity throughout the day. Rather than the dull mandatory school drill periods children should be taught creative exercises that help them release energy in a fun and playful manner. Creative exercises not only train body and brain but also makes them fit for school, for games and for life, Shaima added.
Based on the latest scientific findings Peter Fitz and Shaima Nabeel Al-Mulla opened Fit4Fun in May 2008 with the idea of developing their unique fitness concept to enable kids and teenagers aged 5-14 to enjoy physical activity in a fun and innovative manner. To attract the ‘PlayStation generation’, Fit4Fun Club employs modern technology that makes exercising fun. Video games are transformed to challenging work-outs, virtual games become exciting adventures, and indoor cycling tours turn into fascinating journeys. By jumping, dodging and lunging motions children control the video game player while at the same time training their reaction, speed, and power. The physical activity also improves their stamina, coordination and balance in a fun way.
The 10m Climbing Tower and the Beach Court at the Fit4Fun center are the perfect place to climb, swing, kick, strike and dig like the pros. Martial Arts coaching not only make kids fitter, faster, and more flexible, it also helps to improve concentration and motivation. The aim of Fit4Fun said Head Coach Igor Ducay, is to create a generation that is fit and capable and turn Kuwait from a nation where percentage of obesity is among the highest into a nation of physically active and healthy people.
During June, July and August Fit4Fun offers Weight Loss and Adventure Boot Camps for which registration is open from April 20th. The Weight Loss Camp is a special tailored program for overweight kids and teens, with exciting activities and easy to follow recommendations to loose weight and fun cooking lessons. At the Adventure Boot Camp the youngsters can test their limits. An obstacle course, a rope garden, the agility and strength circle, and martial arts drills offer exciting challenges.
Fit4Fun is a great place for children to improve their self-esteem and make friends while creative exercises at the center are designed at keeping body and mind in balance — a crucial ingredient in enjoying a happy childhood