Apr 4, 2020
Show notes & links available here.
In this episode, I'm speaking with Apryl Krakovsky, founder and CEO of My School in Motion, an award-winning program that promotes fitness, nutrition, wellness and health education for school communities.
Apryl: "I learned that if I went for a run in the morning, everything just looked better, like putting on totally different colored glasses for the rest of the day."
Apryl: "You never know what life will bring if you keep following your heart and the decisions that you make."
Apryl: "Our idea was just movement and redefining what people thought of as PE and exercise, that there are all types of ways that we can move our bodies."
Apryl: "I wanted to get everybody moving but just as importantly, I wanted everybody to understand the immediate benefits, not just long term health benefits, that physical activity was having on their energy, their ability to focus, and their moods."
Audrey: "It's so relevant right now because in a lot of schools PE is either getting set aside or cut in time."
Apryl: "It was innovative and wasn't what they were used to seeing PE look like."
Apryl: "The definition of PE is changing. The emphasis is on enjoying fitness-based stuff. It's not a competitive setting, you're setting goals with yourself."
Audrey: "It's a community thing because when you're doing something together and everyone learns the moves, it raises the sense of belonging. So you're not only getting the kids to exercise but you're also getting the kids doing the same thing and if the teachers are doing it with you, they're playing with the kids."
Audrey: "It's awesome on so many levels. Not just the fact that kids are getting their blood pumping and getting some exercise and fulfilling their PE. It can change the whole culture of a school."
Apryl: "It absolutely changes the school's culture. It's absolutely inclusive. Everybody's participating. It's a common language."
Apryl: "Like camp, it's a place where kids feel emotionally safe and that's what this created on the schoolyard."
Apryl: "If we did nothing else but get kids moving every morning, that would be great because you'd have the benefits but to me, that's just the beginning. It's the connectivity that happens."
Apryl: "It's like this pep rally meets line dancing. But it was the positivity that changed the school culture for everybody...If you can create that positive energy at school, it bleeds off the schoolyard and they take it home."
Apryl: "The self-esteem building life skills stuff, that's a; social-emotional learning and that's the crux of PE, in and of itself."
Audrey: "There's so much research telling us that if we all just moved our bodies more, we would feel better, work better."
Audrey: "I really hope the parents or teachers listening will check out your great program and bring it to their schools and start dancing and having fun."
Apryl Krakovsky -- email: apryl@myschoolinmotion.org
View testimonials, curriculum samples, and live program footage at
www.MySchoolInMotion.org.
Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John Ratey
Watch the documentary Bite-Size for a compelling look at the child obesity problem.
Advice & Encouragement from Experienced Homeschool Parent Kate Rader
Is Kindness the Secret to a Successful Life?
Ep. 131 Coaching for the Love of the Game
Ep. 125: Transforming Schools with Positivity
Ep. 87: The Impact of Camp Experiences with Laurie Browne, Ph.D.