One of the best ways to improve ones health is to be physically active. Physical activity done on a regular basis has proven to prevent disease and promote health. The US Department of Health and Human Services has recently published a report called the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans that sets out how Americans of all ages need to be physically active and how much physical activity is needed to be healthy.

Consider the following benefits of a physically active lifestyle:

· Reduces the risk of many adverse health outcomes.

· Increases cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength.

· Has positive effects on alertness, mental health and increases self-esteem.

· Reduces anxiety and stress.

· Positively impacts people of all types, sizes, gender and ages.

Suggested activity times:

· children and adolescents should be physically active 60 minutes daily.

· adults should be moderately physically active at least 150 minutes each week.

· For fitness benefits, aerobic activity should be in episodes of at least 10 minutes.

· Some activity is better than none.

· Added health benefits generally occur as amount of activity increases.

Other benefits:

· Physically active students learn better.

· A positive relationship exists between higher fitness scores and higher academic scores.

· Kids are more likely to be physically active if their parents are physically active.

· Physically active people have fewer illnesses

The message is clear……Go Play Kansas….do it for you!!!

Dr. Vicki J. Worrell, Executive Director of the Kansas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance - vworrell@emporia.edu

Summer is officially here, signaling the time to get outside to hike, bike and play. Launched last year as a go-to-guide for everything outdoors in Wichita, the online resource GoPlayKansas.com has significantly expanded to include all parks and recreation spaces in the state. Now no matter where you live in Kansas, it has never been easier to find new places to “go play.”

“What started as a local effort to get people outdoors and more active has gone statewide,” said Suzie Ahlstrand, vice president for community advancement at the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce and coordinator for Visioneering Wichita, a community planning process that spearheaded the effort through its Recreation Alliance.

Visitors can go to www.GoPlayKansas.com to find interactive maps and more information about how to locate bike paths, parks with playgrounds and a list of park amenities.  In addition, visitors can read blogs written by local recreation enthusiasts, post comments and sign up to receive more information.

Designed to promote healthy lifestyles among Kansans, GoPlayKansas.com makes finding parks and recreation options throughout the state easy, so families, friends, groups and individuals can get outside and “go play.”

“We really have a tremendous number of assets that can be found in our local and state parks and we want them to be discovered,” said Doug Vance, executive director of the Kansas Recreation and Park Association.  “The GoPlayKansas website is a great way to easily locate these resources, and more importantly to get out and engage in some fun and healthy activities.”

The site also includes a list of activities that can be used to get kids outside and active. The activities were developed by Rhonda Holt, elementary physical education teacher for 33 years and a National Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year. The plans are endorsed by KAHPERD (Kansas Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance), a leader in promoting and advocating for healthy, active Kansans.

“These plans are designed with specific ages in mind, and with the intention that a healthy lifestyle starts early and can last a lifetime,” said Vicki Worrell, executive director of KAHPERD and president of the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. “This is a tremendous resource for the people of Kansas – and for those visiting the state. We hope everyone finds a way to use it.”

Worrell added that the site also is in line with the newly released National Physical Activity Plan, which encourages all individuals and families to be physically active.

“It is exciting to see Kansas really be on the leading edge with this type of initiative,” she said.
Designed and programmed by Wichita interactive agency Howerton+White, the site uses social media technologies to translate GIS (geographic information systems) data about parks, recreation and open spaces, which reside in databases in cities and counties across the state.
To follow GoPlayKansas.com on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook, go to www.GoPlayKansas.com.

Wichita Transit Adds Rider Amenity…. Bike Racks Are Here!

The Wichita Transit Department has added bike racks to all of the Transit buses to accommodate the needs of riders. Each bus is equipped with one bike rack which can hold two bicycles. The bike racks increase transportation options by allowing a bicycle trip to be incorporated with public transportation. There are 48 City buses which travel 18 fixed routes.

“Transit riders have been asking for the bike racks and we are excited to better meet their needs,” Wichita Transit Director Mike Vinson said. “We are now able to connect these two important modes of transportation. We believe the racks will increase ridership and help reduce pollution by encouraging the use of public transportation and bicycles.”

There is no extra charge to riders who use the bike racks. An ARRA Stimulus fund grant of $24,000 paid for the racks. For more information about Transit services, visit wichita.gov or call the information line at 265-7221.

Will this change the way Wichita travels? Will you be more apt to hop on the bus?  Let us know what you think and what you’d like to see next…  bike lanes, anyone?