The math is simple – walking, dancing and exercise add up to better health and happiness endorphins! Once again in January, Ivymount School’s IvyMoves initiative featured special activities, a community event and resources on the benefits of staying active. This is the fifth year that IvyMoves month has demonstrated how Ivymount values student, staff, and family health and fitness, but it reflects a year-round commitment by Ivymount to help foster positive lifelong habits.
In education, movement and exercise are crucial for students as they significantly enhance both physical and mental health. Regular physical activity helps in maintaining a healthy weight, strengthening muscles and bones, and improving cardiovascular health. For students, who spend time sitting in classrooms, incorporating exercise into their daily routine can counteract the negative effects of periods of inactivity. Activities like walking, PE class or exercise in the fitness room can improve overall fitness and energy levels, making it easier for students to stay engaged throughout the day. Research also shows that physical activity can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve mood, and enhance cognitive function and concentration.
By incorporating regular movement into their routines, such as access to the fitness room and the playground and basketball court, students can manage stress more effectively and develop healthy habits that will benefit them throughout their lives. During IvyMoves month, our in-school step challenge had students moving throughout the day to reach 1 million steps, high school students visited lower school classrooms to teach their classmates exercises to meet their daily movement goals, the Adapted Physical Education (APE) team created a line dance for everyone to learn, and an IvyMoves fitness wall was a great place for students and staff to stop and try new exercises.
For the last several years, Ivymount Outreach Programs has also hosted the wider community for a special IvyMoves event featuring ZamDance. Guests came together to enjoy music and movement as they showed their individual Ivy “Moves” during a Soul Train-style dance.
