If you are keen and have queries, please contact Coach Rameshon at 9100 4369 or you can email him at m.rameshon@gmail.com or swift.rameshon@gmail.com. Please refer to website http://flexifitness.com.sg (for more information on him and his programmes)
By Rameshon
Bsc (Hons) Degree in Physical Education, Loughborough University (1992-1994)
Masters in Education (University of Western Australia, 2005-2008)
Dr Ben Tan (right) author of 'Run for your Life', our athlete who did 2hr 56min in 2008. He wrote an article in Straits times two days ago. He is three times 'sportsman of the year' award winner as well.
My firm belief is that the only way to enable one's child to do exercise as a lifetime pursuit is to ensure that a child is highly motivated in sports throughout life in the first place. Without a high level of motivation, the child will leave sports when various distractions in life come to make them give up in sports and hence parents should take this seriously and be responsible for the well being of their child.
Recent Studies in cities of east and west have the following results.
(a) Very active children result in active adult later on in life.
(b) active children result in less active adult later on in life
(c) less active children will end in inactive adult later on in life.
(d) inactive children will end in inactive adult later on in life.
Hence, the very idea of making the child very motivated in sports pose as the biggest challenge in life for parents. With distractions like computer, television and video games, life is getting tougher for parents to get the children to exercise. In fact, I have seen children rebel against their parents in order to continue doing vain pursuits.
The article below shows that inactivity is on the rise for children and as I have predicted the children are more inactive now than ever before. It is getting worse over time. Only parents can save their children. The only way to save them is to make children like activity at a very young age, somewhere between 5 and 9. I have worked with children and it was great working with them. I also noticed that actually at this age, children respond to exercise more than anything. (Many parents have failed to see this. I was brought up that way, that is why until now, at the age of 47, I still run at least 5 to 6 times per day, running an average of 7km per day).
The article below shows that inactivity is on the rise for children and as I have predicted the children are more inactive now than ever before. It is getting worse over time. Only parents can save their children. The only way to save them is to make children like activity at a very young age, somewhere between 5 and 9. I have worked with children and it was great working with them. I also noticed that actually at this age, children respond to exercise more than anything. (Many parents have failed to see this. I was brought up that way, that is why until now, at the age of 47, I still run at least 5 to 6 times per day, running an average of 7km per day).
Finding ways to interest children to exercise is very important. That is why our company Flexifitness has taken some initiatives to introduce programmes, that has been interesting children, to generate great interest in children and have this passion growing in children so that they can excel in one chosen sports and take sports as a lifetime pursuit. Since the inception of Flexifitness last year July, 10 people, children and adults, have lost weight and are having an ideal weight now. Apart from the government efforts, we are willing to work hard, having qualified coaches, so that many in Singapore are not obese. We are doing our part. A study done in Singapore showed that 50 per cent or more of the people of Singapore are obese. The trend may increase if inactivity persists in children.
Exercise is known as one of the eight forms of health as mentioned in Yoga books. One can save on doctors' bill and not spend half of one's wealth on medical bills. This is the truth. Continuous activity in life will ensure that one will keep away from spending a lot on medical bills. Besides that, one will enjoy life with a better quality of life.
Dr Ben Tan, 3 times sportsman of the year award winner, as a runner who once joined our group for training to achieve 2hr 56min for 2008 marathon, and who came in 3rd local individual runner, has written an article on exercise in Straits Times on countering obesity that is prevalent in Singapore. It will be a good read for many.
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Benedict Tan Chi Loong (Dr)
Chairman
Exercise is Medicine Singapore Task Force
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Benedict Tan Chi Loong (Dr)
Chairman
Exercise is Medicine Singapore Task Force
DR ANDY Ho ("New media may offer escape hatch for unhealthy food
ads"; Dec 6) has raised important points concerning the growing
prevalence of obesity among children and the factors that have
contributed to this public health problem.
The Health Promotion Board's proposed guidelines on limiting TV and print advertising of food and beverages high in fat, sugar, or salt to children are a step in the right direction. As multiple factors contribute to the obesity crisis, a holistic
approach is necessary. This approach must also educate the public more
effectively about healthy food choices and the importance of
incorporating regular physical activity as a part of people's daily
lives.
Children are more physically inactive now than ever before. They are
spending an increasing part of their day sitting in front of the
television and/or computer.
A study in 2002 showed that children between nine and 15 years of age exercise an average of 31 minutes on weekdays. This drops to 5.4
minutes on weekends.
A national health survey in 2010 showed that 48 per cent of adults do
not exercise regularly while another finding suggests that adults spend
on average 100 minutes daily using electronic devices.
The Exercise is Medicine Singapore (EIMS) task force acknowledges
that physical inactivity is a fast-growing public health concern, as it
directly contributes to the societal burden of chronic diseases,
including diabetes, hypertension, and coronary artery disease.
Launched last year, we aim to educate and empower health-care
providers and the public with the tools to make exercise and healthy
eating part of maintaining health and managing chronic health problems.
We also commend the Education Ministry's new physical education (PE)
curriculum, which will commence in 2014. This will include an extra hour of PE on top of the current one to 11/2 hours a week for primary school pupils and an hour a week for secondary school students.
Aside from the health benefits of physical activity, sport is important for learning life skills such as teamwork and stress reduction. Studies have found that children have improved concentration and perform better in school when they exercise regularly.
If we can get our children to spend less time sitting in front of the
TV and/or computer every day, this would not only help address the
obesity crisis but also expose them to less of the targeted food and
beverage advertisements in the first place.
Note: If anyone wants to reduce weight through exercise and are looking for professional help, you can e-mail flexifitness when you go to the CONTACT link of www.runningcoachsg.com
Note:
By Narayanan
Rameshon has taught in Hwa Chong Institution, plus several schools, and Republic Polytechnic as well. He has won many accolades and he was awarded Merit Award for 1991 marathon performance in breaking the national record of Singapore, at that time. He has made 22 male athletes do a marathon in sub-3hrs. He has made 7 female runners do sub-4 hours for the marathon, as well. He was inducted to the ‘Roll of Honour’ by the then College of Physical Education, organised by Singapore Olympic Academy, in 1998, for breaking the National record repeatedly 4 times, till he did 2hr 24min 22sec).
He also has a Coaching group and he trains them on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm at Botanic Gardens. Those interested can call him at 91004369 for coaching assistance, to improve performance. There is also personal training that he does for many in a week. You can e-mail him at swift.rameshon@gmail.com.
