| Information
for instructors |
Canadians are not as active today as in the past. About 61% of adults
aged 18 and older, that is more than half the population, are not active
enough to maintain their health, compared with 79% in 19811. Many things
people do today— watching TV, playing computer games, driving
their cars— require less activity. Yet people need to be active
to be healthy.
Active living is really a way of life, in which physical activity
is an important and regular part of people’s daily lives. It includes
just about anything, from housework to basketball. In 2000, Canadians
said walking and gardening were their two favourite active living activities2.
| People may be inactive for a variety
of reasons—because: |
- they don’t like the idea of exercising—they think
it’s hard
- they think they don’t have enough time
- they like watching TV, playing computer games, reading, or
other activities that involve little movement
- they feel healthy, and don’t think they need to be
active
- they get tired quickly
- they’re overweight, and don’t think they can
do it
|
| Instructors can help people become more
active by: |
- helping learners understand what active living is
- helping them understand the health benefits of active living
and the health risks of being inactive
- helping them develop a plan to become more active
- including physical activity regularly in their classrooms
- providing them with sources of information on active living
|
___________________
1 Canadian Fitness
and Lifestyle Research Institute, 2000 Physical Activity Monitor
2 As above |
