Get Healthy By Volunteering

By Brandi Swieter

Volunteer work often revolves around helping out within the community. Many people assist at events by taking tickets, baking goods, and watching over kids. Other volunteer opportunities exist that allow people to not only help out, but also get healthy in the process. Check out some local options and see which ones look enticing to try.

Fit Kids

Groups like Fit Kids, CrossFit Kids, and more exist to help children get the fitness opportunities they need in their lives. Many hospitals run these programs to ensure overweight children can get the exercise and information they need to get back on track with their health. People can volunteer at these programs by working with the kids and showing them fun exercises they can do at home. Dance and Zumba are two options that many children seem to enjoy.

Dog Walking

Plenty of dogs around town need to get walked yet have no one to take them regularly. Volunteers can choose to walk these dogs around town and give them the exercise they need to stay fit. It helps the people doing the walking stay fit as well.

Senior Wellness

Most cities have a senior center available where older adults can socialize with others and enjoy time away from home. Physical fitness becomes increasingly important as people age so they can keep up their strength as much as possible. Visit a center for an hour each week and help out during the wellness class. Opportunities exist to show proper exercise practices, discuss nutritional tips, and bring in healthy snacks.

Park Cleanup

Parks work well as fitness areas for kids and adults alike. The problem arises when the parks become overrun with trash and debris left behind. Many walking paths in these areas also get blocked by fallen tree branches during storms. A great way to get some exercise in while volunteering is to help with park cleanup. People can clear walking paths and remove the debris or walk around the grounds picking up garbage to remove it from the area. Doing so will leave the space free and clear for use by others wanting to also get in some exercise and sunshine.

Coaching

Some older adults may find it difficult to get out and play sports like they once did. Rather than doing the playing, many choose to coach others on how to handle the game instead. Coaches sometimes get to exercise when showing players a particular move or teaching different stretches. It’s a great way to give back to the community while still getting to enjoy time outdoors while trying to stay fit.

Volunteering can be very rewarding in many ways. Choose a volunteer opportunity that looks enticing and use it as a way to not just give back to the community, but also get some fitness time in for yourself. After a long day of volunteer work, some may even need to see a chiropractor to help their bodies recover. Visit The Joint Chiropractic to see what assessment they have.

To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Eastvale, Calif.