By Catholic Partnership Schools Healthy Courier reporters | Several St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral School staff members say exercise is good for kids’ health and growth. In recent interviews with Healthy Courier reporters, the staff talked about the importance of exercise and about how they exercise. 

“Exercise is important for all ages for heart health,” according to Ms. Dressel, St. Joseph Pro’s physical education and art teacher. 

Kids and teens should get aerobic exercise for at least 60 minutes a day, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). But the AHA says research shows only 25 percent of kids are getting enough exercise. 

Aerobic exercise includes activities that make your heart beat faster, use large muscle groups, and increase how much oxygen your body uses, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Some types of aerobic exercise are running, swimming, and biking, experts say. 

Ms. Dressel said exercising is important to kids because it helps improve their health and helps them in their growth. Ms. Dressel exercises four times a week for 30 minutes each day. During her exercises, she lifts weights and does cardio to get her heart rate up. Ms. Dressel said going to the gym helps her feel better about herself because it helps relieve stress. 

Mr. Culbertson, instructional aide at St. Joseph Pro, said he likes to go to the gym because he can bring his kids there and spend quality time with them. 

He goes to the gym for 90 minutes to two hours regularly, switching up his body workouts. Going to the gym is “a good activity for kids because it helps with their emotions and keeps them healthy,” Mr. Culbertson said. 

Ms. Castro, food service director at St. Joseph Pro, said she is an active person who cares about her and her family’s health. 

Ms. Castro said she loves riding pedal bikes, running, swimming, and hiking. She enjoys these activities during the summer, almost every day. In the winter, she said, she barely does them because of the cold. Ms. Castro said her activities make her feel relaxed and happy since she is spending time with her family. Ms. Castro recommends exercise for kids because it helps them to stay in shape and have amazing health. 

Written by St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral reporters.

Illustration by Ruby, St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral reporter.