Fitness Tips from Fitness 2J2: “Set the trap” squat
- Joel Pedersen | December 23, 2017
Happy holidays and Merry Christmas, I hope this year has been very uplifting and fulfilling for you. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to visit and provide programming to a number of new Northern communities in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario, and return to some for a second and third time.
We grow not just physically, also mental, spiritual, and emotional. It is a gift we have been all given, that of holistic health and lifestyle. For some of us the balance is often the challenge, and at times finding the consistency and motivation seems almost impossible.
This is where we turn impossible, into possible. We start with a goal: better health; lifestyle; brighter future; happiness; positive relationships; resiliency; I think we can all add to this list. For a number of people who contact me or whom I have met through my travels these are often the goals and outcomes they would like.
Once we set a goal, we need to follow through with the plan. This is usually where you find someone to assist you with building the plan. Your goal and plan need to challenge you, when it does you will find change. A true shift at a holistic level, you will achieve more than you ever though you could. Sounds interesting? We have seen the start of that change with people in less than a week, with consistency of group fitness and healthy lifestyle programming in communities. In personal fitness training that is also personal development.
As some may know I am a true believer that people, places and things happen, or come to us when they are intended to. Though serendipity or unintended learning experiences, or a combination of events with positive outcomes we find hope.
One of these came during my visit to Sandy Bay First Nation this past month. During the week at the school and community in the evening, I was invited to come out with the Grade five class to their culture camp. To learn about making and setting rabbit snares.
I was able to spend time with an elder, his name was Bob, very passionate and proud of his community and sharing culture. As we went through the fresh snow in the woods, and over rock that this area embraces. Checking the trap line; setting and re-setting snares. Bob shared some stories of living off the land, and the importance of his fitness. After a few hours going through the bush, we stopped and talked about how sometimes it’s the small things that we take for granted. Like a hot cup of tea, or dry and warm feet when you’re in the bush. This time with Bob reminded me of my mushum John-Louis. He had a trap-line, it had been many years since he had been on it. I asked him once what he missed about it, he said being active and being connected to nature. The smile on Bob’s face as I told him this reminded me of the pride my old mushum had when he started talking about his dog team and being connected to the land and the rivers. The laughter of the kids as they located tracks in the snow and setting theirsnares carried through the tall pines. At the end of the day, one kid came up to me “hey coach, now I understand that game you played with us the other day in class of set the trap squat’s”.
Fitness 2J2 is a socially responsible community based health and wellness company. Contributing to the success and vitality of our communities, promoting healthy and positive lifestyles for Indigenous people of all ages and abilities. STRONG HEALTHY PROUD