MP students take the KidsFit challenge

It was a pushup with a twist.

Most of the fourth- through sixth-grade students who entered Iowa Wesleyan University's Ruble Arena already knew how to do a pushup, but Hy-Vee's KidsFit Club added another element to the excerise on Friday, Feb. 22. As upbeat music played throughout the gym, the Mt. Pleasant students, working with a partner, would perform a push-up and then reward each other with a high-five as they lift themselves up. This was one of the fun exercises learned Friday as they gathered to join the Hy-Vee KidsFit Club. During the first drill Van Allen Elementary School fifth-graders Hayley Jenning and Hannah Keith teamed up to try the exercises being taught to hundreds of other students.

'It's fun,” Keith commented on the drill. 'You get to do athletic stuff, but in a fun way - and you get to meet new people and do new things.”

Some of the students in the gym had joined the club and taken its five-week challenge in 2018, but for many this was the first year doing the event.

The Hy-Vee KidsFit program is a five-week course designed to promote health, fitness and nutrition. As part of the course, the kids will learn to take control of their personal health and fitness. The exercises demonstrated were meant to be done without equipment, making it open to everyone. Many of the exercises, though, involve working with a partner.

Daira Driftmier, Hy-Vee sports marketing manager and director of KidsFit, acted as the personal trainer for the students. The KidsFit website also includes several videos of her showing students how to exercise. A native of Iowa, she holds a degree in exercise science from Central College in Pella. 'I get to think about how I can make your lives better,” she told the students during the presentation. 'I get to think about how I can help you, and your family and your school and your community. Hy-Vee cares about your community.”

She explained she had created the website to help teach students to exercise. The site was so successful, Hy-Vee created a KidsFit phone app.

The initial program will last five weeks. After this is complete, the students will have the opportunity to join the Hy-Vee Kids Club and continue the training. Driftier also said there are many incentives from local Hy-Vee stores to continue the path to fitness. The club includes three levels designed to bring the students from rookie, through pro, and onto all-star.

The five-week course is only the beginning. The interactive site allows students to continue by blending work days, fun days, eat days and family days to create a holistic fitness experience. Members of the club also qualify for such things as rewards from the area HyVee and invitations to future events.

To learn more about the club, go to https://www.hy-veekidsfit.com/.