As most of us are quite aware, the economy has taken quite a hit this past year and because of this, schools are affected. Their funding is being reduced and when this happens many schools are forced to cut time and spending from their Physical Education programs. This situation is extremely unfortunate especially because our nation is struggling with an obesity epidemic.

In response to these issues, The Egoscue Foundation decided to take the Patch “O”bstacle Course and donate them. We want to get kids moving. The best part about the Patch “O”bstacle Course is its is for children for every ability level. The Patch creates a non-competitive environment where each child who encounters the Patch can have fun and encounter their own challenge and success. The Patch “O” Course workouts incorporate agility, balance, coordination, and dexterity to improve muscular strength and endurance, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, and as a result, improves body composition (decreases body fat and increases lean body mass). To achieve muscular strength and endurance, the “O” Course utilizes the body and gravity for resistance, while replicating life’s daily activities. The functional strength children develop using the patch allows them to be stronger and more confident in every aspect of their lives. The Patch exercises includes both aerobic and anaerobic energy systems to boost kids’ cardiovascular endurance. To maintain normal flexibility, the Patch exercises involve movements in every conceivable physical plane, aligning the musculoskeletal system in its original and correct alignment. All of these benefits are achieved through fun and imaginative exercises such as bear crawls, crocodile twists, crab walks, spidermans and inch worms.

Having a Patch is a great opportunity for schools and community centers. The only thing schools need to provide is one educator who is passionate about physical activity in children who can help facilitate the simple and easy implementation of The Patch. The Foundation will go into the school or community center and give them the curriculum, equipment, proper training along with a follow up program. We want each school to be successful with their Patch.

All of the schools and community centers who we have received a donation  Here are somethings educators have said about The Patch:

“I want to thank the Egoscue Foundation for contributing this Patch ‘O’ Course to Jefferson, and making a difference in the lives and wellness of our students!” … Lori Johnson, PTA Fundraiser at Jefferson Elementary in Carlsbad, CA

“We are VERY EXCITED about the “Patch” coming our way!! … “Thank you so very much for this wonderful gift and opportunity!” … Maureen Werner, Principal at Marshe Point Elementary School in Palm Beach Gardens, FL

For those of you who are not quite sure what Patch Fitness is here is a short explanation of it and how it can transform your notions about working out and exercise:

The Patch Obstacle Course was designed by Pete Egoscue, creator and developer of the Egoscue Method and Pain Free Methods. The concept behind the patch is that “our environment is our bodies’ playground”. Our bodies were developed to perform many different tasks that we no longer perform during this day in age. With the use of a Patch workout we are able to teach our bodies to use to muscles we long thought we could use, or even existed! The key is to re-teach our bodies functional fitness, to use our muscles and joints in the ways they were intended to be used.

The big looming question now, is…Why do we no longer move our bodies in the way they are intended to be used?

This is a two-fold answer. 1st is the most obvious, the lifestyle of our society has evolved to be the most sedentary lifestyle that has every existed in the course of history, our typical day does not require much physical strain. Because our daily lives no longer provide many physical challenges, and unlike children, we have important things to do, such as pay the bills, and clean the house.  As adults, we must CREATE physical activity and challenges. For most of us, we solve this problem by going to the gym.

Now, the gym is great, and provides great results for many people, and any physical activity is good activity. But, there is one thing the gym tends to lack, and that is the tangible challenges and successes. We forget how we used to physically challenge ourselves as we did as children. For example, when I was a kid we used to make up all sorts of games in particular we would stand on the monkey bars at recess and jump and see how far we could land. Children are fearless when it comes to their physical limitations. When they see a challange instead of saying, “Oh, I can’t jump that far”, they say “Lets see how far I can jump.”  We have to learn to think like a child, we have to learn how to play again. So as for the 2nd part of this answer which I have already touched on it a bit, is FEAR. Most of the time we let fear get in the way of us overcoming a physical challenge.  As we grow older, and we haven’t done a particular task in a long time, we become scared.  We have to learn to over come our fears of physical activity.

I have a great example of this too! We as interns at the Egoscue Foundation had the privilege of learning all of the Patch exercises with the wonderful Courtney at Egoscue University. One of the tasks she asked us to complete was to do a hand stand against the wall. I was thinking, “You’ve got to be kidding me, there is absolulty no way I can do that…I haven’t done one since I was about 10 years old!” Physically, there was nothing standing in my way of completing a hand stand against the wall, I had the ability to do it…I mean I was going to do it against the wall for heaven’s sake, it is going to hold me up. But for some reason I was scared. I hadn’t done one in forever, I was scared of failure. Anyway, I finally got the courage to give it a try, and I actually did it…twice! I was so excited! I can’t even begin to describe the excitement I had after I had overcame this challenge. It was almost better than endorphins! I couldn’t stop smiling, and I had a blast. This is what exercising is supposed to be about. Its about pushing yourself to the limit, knowing your body, its strengths and weakness, and learning how to improve upon them, and to have fun!

If you only get one thing out of this entire blog post, please let it be the idea that working out should be fun, and a great way to challenge and push yourself!

Don’t forget, to check us out on facebook and twitter. If you have a question, you can ask it under the comments of each blog or email us at interns@egoscue.com and we will get back to you as soon as we can!

Have a great week everybody!