Get Off The Couch This Summer: Join The Fitness Revolution For Kids

Main Category: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 27 Jun 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Theresa Byrne has helped thousands blossom through health and fitness at her Denver martial arts studio and as the fitness coach on the reality show Fitting In, on the ABC Family Channel. Now she's bringing her motivational fitness program to a kid near you.

Today Byrne releases a workout DVD based on her "Fitness Revolution for Kids" program, a new approach built on the belief that kids can find success and even fun getting fit through positive motivation and by connecting mind, body and spirit. Fitness Revolution for Kids is a playful, high-energy workout for children ages 5 and up. It is now available at vhttp://www.revolutionforkids.com for $19.99.

"The Revolution is designed to give today's amazing children the tools they need to create their own generation of health," Byrne said. "We empower kids and their families by accepting the good things about them. When kids are feeling healthy and strong, their positive contributions to the world are limitless."

The statistics on the rising impact of childhood obesity in the U.S. are alarming. One in three U.S. children born in the year 2000 could develop diabetes during their lifetime, according to a July 2005 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The current generation of children in America is the first predicted to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents, according to a 2005 report by the New England Journal of Medicine.

Byrne tells families the first step in creating your own Revolution is a new positive attitude toward health. "I'm determined to make it cool to take care of your body," Byrne said. "Fitness doesn't have to be work, it can be fun… it can be play!"

The Revolution workout is created and led by Byrne, who owns one of the largest martial arts studios in Denver. Fitness Revolution for Kids uses easy-to-follow martial arts moves matched to upbeat music as it leads families through a series of exercises designed to rev up their heart rates and strengthen their bodies. The workout can be moderated to all shapes, sizes and fitness levels. Families can choose the full, 45-minute workout or select segments for a quick workout. During the program, "fit facts" appear on the screen to teach kids and their families how their bodies work and explain how to get the best from their bodies.

Success Breeds Success

Byrne has trained thousands of kids and adults in the Denver area in the practice of mind and body health through martial arts and fitness. In her daily interactions in the studio, Byrne was continually struck by the similarities among different people in all walks of life dealing with issues holding them back in their lives. Time and again, Byrne observed these issues stemmed from people feeling negative about themselves. Byrne used positive motivation and fun in her work with children, finding when they reached new levels of success in fitness/martial arts, it affected a whole-person change. When they found the power within themselves, her students blossomed in all aspects of their lives.

And So The Revolution Was Born

Inspired by the successes of her students, Byrne has created an exercise program that kids and their families can use to find their own positive power. The Fitness Revolution for Kids is a flexible exercise program that kids and their families can use to take control of their own fitness. The Revolution addresses the whole child through positive motivation and play-like fun. To produce the workout, Byrne tapped her background in martial arts, fitness training and empowerment coaching.

"Getting healthy isn't about diets and fads," Byrne said. "It's about accepting your strengths and allowing your true gifts to shine through to the rest of the world."

Byrne calls out five easy ways families can get started.

Five Easy Ways to Start Your Own Fitness Revolution

- Do something healthy every day
- Eat foods that fuel your body
- Make exercise a way of life
- Decide it's cool to take good care of your body
- Find something that you love to do, and do it every day

Free Classes in Denver

This summer, Byrne will host live Fitness Revolution exercise classes free to parents and kids who would like to try the moves, get a great workout, and learn to use their minds to get healthy and have fun with fitness. Classes will take place July 16 at 7 p.m., July 19 at 1 p.m., August 13 at 7 p.m., and August 16 at 1 p.m. All classes will be held at United Martial Arts Center, 1610 E. Girard Place, Englewood, Colo., 80113. Visit United Martial Arts on the web at http://www.umac.us.

About the Instructor

Byrne is a Black Belt in martial arts, a fitness instructor, personal trainer, motivational speaker, and creator of "Finding Your Voice," a self-empowerment and self-defense program for adults. She owns and runs United Martial Arts Center, one of the largest martial arts and fitness centers in Denver, where she trains children starting at age 3 and all ranges of adults including celebrities, professional athletes, actors and lots of regular people and their kids too.

Byrne appeared on the ABC Family Channel in the reality TV show, Fitting In, as fitness coach to overweight kids who made a commitment to get fit. Throughout the process Byrne teaches the kids and their families how to treat themselves with love and respect. Fitting In also will air on Comcast Entertainment Channel (Channel 5 in Denver) on June 28, and on Comcast Colorado Video On Demand throughout the summer. A trailer of the show can be seen online at youtube/UMACDenver.

Byrne recently starred in a short film, "Kung Fu Kops," in which she embodied true girl power and also did all the fight choreography. A trailer for "Kung Fu Kops" can be viewed here.

For more information on Fitness Revolution for Kids, please visit http://www.revolutionforkids.com.

A percentage of the proceeds of the Revolution DVD will benefit Children's Hospital of Denver, the Children's Miracle Network and local schools.

Fitness Revolution for Kids