Finally, you've made it home from your 6 1/2 hour incarceration, which for some of us who decide to take on extra obligations, can become anywhere from 8-10 hours of incarceration. Like any other teenager or young adult in this world, you need something to relax your mind after a long school day. Your solution: Digital therapy.
In an age of technology, the easiest way to spend free time away from our studies is to cling to technology; our gadgets, our games, our social media, and our blogs. In a study by Kaiser Family Foundation it was found that those ages 8 to 18 spend more than seven and a half hours a day with devices such as smartphones, computers, and television. And this is without including the countless hours spent talking and texting on the phone.
How does this relate to the Pilipino population? As the 5th largest country on Facebook, it can easily be drawn that much of our time as Pilipinos is spent using technology to stay connected through social media, and it isn’t getting any easier with new sites such as Tumblr catching the eyes of our population. As a whole, social media has become a pioneer "talent agency" within the Pilipino community. It has created a platform for many Pilipinos to share their stories, their work, and their talents. We see prime examples in Pilipino stars such as Charice Pempengco and Arnel Pineda, who have risen to fame through their Youtube videos.
That being said, how can younger generations get involved with Bakitwhy.com‘s Pilipino American Health Awareness Month campaign when they are constantly “plugged in” to their technology? The obvious solution would be to ignore distracting devices altogether, however sometimes the obvious answer isn’t so easy. So, why not combine old habits to create new ones, and take advantage of what is already used daily.
There is a new saying that has built over the years for every question proposed to society - "There’s an app for that." And in the case of getting daily exercise, the saying holds true. The following two apps provide a fast and easy approach in the palm of your hand.
Nike Training Club App
Platform: Iphone
Cost: Free
Target Audience: Women
Iphone Description: Nike Training Club is a training app that gives you your own personal trainer, anytime, anywhere. Get lean, toned, and strong with over 60 custom-built workouts featuring audio guidance and on-demand instruction from a Nike Professional Trainer.
Nike BOOM App
Platform: Iphone, Android
Cost: Free
Target Audience: Men
Iphone Description: Nike BOOM syncs your music to your dynamic training workouts, with your sport's most elite athletes and coaches motivating you along the way. First you choose your sport, then your type of training-such as intervals-then set the amount of time you have and the playlist you want to listen to.
For those without smartphones, a useful tool you can use to get your daily dose of sweat is the website known as ExerciseTV. ExerciseTV provides free workout videos, fitness plans, and healthy lifestyle tips. It is an easy and free alternative to costly and demanding programs such as P90X, although the latter is highly recommended if you have the willpower and cash.
You can always resort to the gaming systems to provide you some fun ways to earn your exercise. From WiiFit, to Just Dance and Dance Central, from EA Sports Active 2 to Your Shape Fitness Evolved, the number of fitness games on gaming consoles is reinventing how we look at a hobby that was often referred to as simply being lazy.
If none of these seem to fit you, maybe its time to do things the old school way. Get outside and move around. Check your local gyms for inexpensive classes or free workshops. Take up a new sport and turn it into a new hobby. Whatever it may be, it is essential to get some form of exercise throughout your day as a commitment to a healthy lifestyle. In the end you will feel better, look better, and possible have found something that you enjoy that doesn’t come with a battery life.
Sources:
No Facebook?
By kaywan on February 18, 2011 - 9:32pm
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BOOM App + Dance Central = uberwin