Summer is half way over and for parents,you might be running out of fun ideas to keep the kids happy and healthy.

Family fitness can be a wonderful way to encourage your loved ones to prioritize healthy group activities and get in better shape. Here are our top four picks for fitness activities that the whole family can enjoy together.

1. Swimming

 Swimming is a great family activity. Not only is swimming proficiently a great life skill to have, but your children might also find that they want to pursue water sports—like surfing or competition swims—and access to regular pool time can be a big leg up when it comes to training. The warmer months often and free time often mean trips to the beach or summer camp at the lake, so signing up for spring classes can help prepare your children for summertime fun!

 Swimming is a low-stress activity, and there are many benefits to enrolling your children in swim lessons. Learning to swim in a controlled environment like a pool will help your kids build confidence and gain proficiency in the water. Scheduling lap time or family swim time in the pool will help you and your kids’ bond through love of a shared activity.

2. Martial Arts

 Another fitness activity that the whole family can bond over are martial arts. There are many different practices grouped under the term “martial arts” include activities like karate, taekwondo, and kendo. These practices popularized in the US with a focus on self-defense skills.

 Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that emphasizes kicking and the power of your body’s most powerful muscles. It’s also an Olympic sport. Not only does the practice of Taekwondo help build physical strength, participating in Taekwondo can also help discipline the mind and build confidence. If you’re local to the greater Lancaster, PA area, Universal Athletic Club (UAC) offers Taekwondo classes for all ages and levels of experience.

3. Yoga

 Yoga is a wonderful activity in terms of how good it is for you. Studies have shown that yoga promotes good posture, increases muscle tone, has cardiovascular benefits, improves flexibility and joint health, and can help reduce stress and improve sleep.

 There are so many benefits to adopting a yoga practice, and it’s a fitness activity that is easy for the entire family to do together. UAC offers expert-led yoga classes held in our state-of-the-art yoga studio within our fitness facility.

4. Zumba

 Zumba is another fun activity that will get your family moving and dancing together. What is Zumba? Zumba incorporates fitness inspired by Latin American dance. The movement was created by a Colombian dance choreographer and has become an extremely popular fitness activity.

 Zumba helps increase your cardiovascular health while strengthening your body, and it’s been shown to reduce both blood pressure and bad cholesterol. The total-body workout promotes endurance and has even improve coordination. 

 Interested in learning more? Stop by UAC and see what we have to offer. Our friendly staff can give you a tour of our fitness facility and answer any questions you may have.