Teens keep in shape with aerobics

By Paula J. McGarvey For The Montana Standard - 06/28/2005

Walter Hinick / The Montana Standard Teenagers Kristiana Osterman, Sarah Conway, Tasha Conway, Heather Peterson, Jayde Conway and Tyana Conway, from left, work out at the YMAC recently during a teen aerobics class.

A group of Butte teens and "tweens" is starting the summer off on the right step with a new aerobics class being offered by the Butte Family YMCA. The class is lead by YMCA Fitness Instructor Laurie Peterson each Tuesday at the Uptown YMCA at 405 W. Park St. from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m.

The co-educational class is geared toward girls and boys between the ages of 10 and 18, covering the teen and "tween" years, the new term for preteen youth falling between the ages of 10 and 12. Peterson said that she is flexible about extending the range downward if younger children come with appropriate supervision.

"I encourage parents to come and workout with their kids," she said.

Peterson got the idea to try a "Tween Aerobics" class last fall. "I was trying to find something for kids to do. There's so much obesity in kids. The TV is all they do," she said. Peterson began offering the aerobics classes each Saturday. The turnout was good throughout the winter and spring, so Peterson decided to offer a summer version of the class.

"What I'm trying to do with this class is offer incentives," she said. Prizes will be awarded for best attendance and for the most improved students when the summer "Tween" class ends in August.

Peterson said that planning a workout for the "Tween" class is more challenging than preparing for the adult aerobics and Boot Camp classes that she teaches. "It's harder to keep their attention. If they get bored or it gets too hard, they stop," she said.

Peterson tries to keep the focus on fun while she puts her class of kids through a workout consisting of step aerobics, laps, jumping rope, calisthenics, exercise balls and toning. She stops and has the class members check their heart rates several times throughout the workout to ensure that they are working at the right pace. At the end of class Peterson leads the kids through a cool down and ultimately dims the lights while they go through 10 minutes of relaxation and stretching exercises.

Members attending the first session were pleased with the work out. Sarah Conway, 13, said she decided to take the class to help keep her weight in check. "It's really good exercise and it helps your heart and stuff," she said. Sister, Tasha Conway, age 12, was inspired by sibling rivalry. "I wanted to be stronger because my brother teases me about not being strong enough," she said. Little sister, Jayde Conway, 10, was just looking for a good time. "I like it because it's fun," she said.

Mom, Ginger Conway, said that she has no trouble getting her girls to go to class. "They look forward to it, they really do. Laurie makes it fun," she said. From a health perspective, Conway is glad her girls are exercising. "It gets them away from the TV and video games," she said.

For more information or to register for "Tween Aerobics," call the Uptown YMCA at 782-1266.