If they're not active yet, the teen years are a good time for kids to start building fitness habits that follow them into adulthood.
And a North Vancouver program aims to ensure they get off to a safe start.
First Time Fitness is a program designed for teens who are new to fitness and weight training.
"We just feel it's part of our responsibility to help them create a healthy lifestyle and part of that is understanding (their) body," explains Samantha Morrison, a recreation programmer with the North Vancouver Recreation and Culture Commission.
The program is open to youth ages 13-17, and features about six participants in each group so the instructor can provide lots of personal attention.
Morrison says the program involves a lot of education and also some myth-busting since many teens are exposed to media with confusing messages about fitness and health. The certified kinesiologist who heads the class helps sort through the muddle.
For six weeks, participants meet with the trainer for an hour and learn about core, strength, endurance, and stretching among other fitness topics. They also learn about effective and safe use of the weight room at the community centre. The instructor gives the participants a strong orientation of the weight room and how to use all the equipment.
Sometimes youth don't understand the mechanics of lifting, notes Morrison. For example, they may not know how to balance muscle development rather than just working on building biceps. Since young bodies are still growing and developing, it's important to be aware of lifting weights in such a way that doesn't injure backs and joints as well.
In addition to safe use of the weight room, youth are also introduced to weight room etiquette.
The weight rooms are regularly used by many different groups, including young people, seniors, seasoned athletes, and novices, so knowing proper etiquette is important, says Morrison.
The First Time Fitness program gives youth an alternative to screen time, she says. "It's a bit like personal training and PE put together." At the end of the program participants should feel confident to sort through fitness literature, and to have realistic goals for their fitness, explains Morrison. They should be able to understand general fitness terms like strength and endurance, and understand how that translates into their workout.
Learning more about fitness in general may also help participants choose other fitness and sports activities they may want to try.
First Time Fitness starts again in January, and arrangements can be made for groups of friends who want to take the course together.
In addition to weight room training, North Vancouver Recreation also offers other youth programs, including yoga and spin classes.
There are a variety of membership options to choose from, and all classes have a $2 try-it offer in January. In addition, there are financial assistance options for those who qualify, and support options for youth with disabilities.
For more information visit northvanrec.com.
