Kent Sport’s Strength and Conditioning Instructor, Chris Payne reflects on two significant events this year and provides us with something we can all do to help us improve our wellbeing.
There are two major events that have occurred in March 2020 that are worlds apart yet both influential in how families and their children deal with the coming weeks during these difficult and unprecedented times. On Friday 20 March the British Government officially closed all schools and effectively told the country to stay indoors to help protect against the spread of Covid-19. Not since the Second World War (1939-1945) have presidents, prime ministers and politicians asked their public to adopt such measures for the welfare of a country.
The second event utilises modern technology and will help families and their children combat the solitary measures we are being asked to take during this period. On Tuesday 24 March, Disney officially launched the new Disney plus channel, and families young and old may well be thankful for a full library of animated classics, Marvel films, Pixar and the Star Wars franchises. Yet, a closer more meaningful investigation of Disney’s history could help us appreciate more than the advanced technology we take for granted in today’s society.
“It all started with a mouse” we knowingly love as Mickey. However back in 1928 his name was steam boat Willie and he appeared in one of the first ever sound cartoons. In fact it is possible that during the Second World War people would have visited old picture houses and saw this creation on the screen. Visiting picture houses was encouraged by the government at that time in the hope of entertaining the public during uncertain times. But even more powerful are Mr Walt Disney’s philosophies and motivations and how we can take a simple quote and use it to engage with our children and keep active in mind and body.
Walt Disney said the following:
“Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children”
Based on this philosophy I have asked my eldest daughter Kiana (6) to invent a yoga exercise that we could perform for 5 minutes every day to improve our wellbeing and mindfulness. Please join us as we do the following:
- Lay on your back, knees bent fully and feet flat on the floor
- Lower your knees to the sides so it splits your legs apart
- Place the soles of your feet together and let your legs remain bent and relaxed
- Place your hands on the floor down the sides of your body
- Close your eyes
- RELAX!
This simple movement can help provide a gentle stretch down the insides of your thighs and help increase a sense of mindfulness all without the need for modern technology. In fact, whilst performing this very simple movement why not consider all the things you would like to do as a family but are currently restricted during our isolation. In the next Wellness Wednesday post we will take another philosophy from a famous individual and put together a wellbeing jar.
Stay well!
Wellness Wednesday is part of Kent Sport’s #KentSportStayWellAtHome series of daily blogs and vlogs to keep you positive during these unusual times. To be sure not to miss it, Like us on Facebook and follow on Instagram and Twitter @UniKentSports – we hope you enjoy and join in!