Credit: Chris Staefe

To help parents achieve wellness for the whole family, Asobi Sport Family Fitness created the Jia-Yo! (pronounced: “Ji-ah-yo”) Philosophy which focuses on situational exercise. At all our classes & workshops, you can learn how to multitask and incorporate 2-10 min core-building exercises while you nurture your children throughout your day. We know you don’t have time to exercise. We know you don’t have the energy. Keep in mind, you don’t have to leave your child. You don’t have to have Pilates equipment. And you don’t have to be a star athlete. You just have to want to feel better! Check out our new Saturday morning Jia-Yo! Situational Exercise Class and answer questions like: “How can I exercise while soothing my fussy baby?” or “What gentle exercises can I do when my daughter cluster feeds?” The tools you learn at class can help you replenish in the comfort of your own home on days when you can’t seem to leave the house!

In Mandarin Chinese, the pin yin word “Jia-You” literally means “add oil” or “add fuel,” essentially, “give it more gas.” It’s the equivalent of : “Hang in there, you can do it, go for it!” When you start to fatigue, Jia-You means to focus, remember your purpose, and give it your all. You may have heard in the 2008 Summer Olympics sports fans yelling “Jia-You! Zhongguo, Jia-You!” “Go China, Go!” Well, here at Asobi Sport we tell our parents, “Jia-Yo! Mama, Jia-Yo Baba!” “Go Mom, Go Dad!” Don’t give up! Just know your family depends on you, so dig deep, get creative, and know that your family’s health is worth it!

Goodness knows you don’t “FEEL” like exercising! You don’t feel like getting up in the middle of the night, either but you do it for your children. Now it’s time to nurture yourself—even when you don’t feel like it (and it’s the last thing you want to do.) Take care of yourself because your family is counting on you! Just think how revived your spirit can be when you do take the time to breathe deeply, focus on your spinal alignment, increase your circulation, strengthen your core, and boost your endorphins! The beautiful thing is when you do decide to take care of yourself, you actually feel better! And your family responds to the positive change in you!

This isn’t about fitting back into your pre-pregnancy jeans. It’s about loving every minute of being with your children, even when–and especially when–your patience begins to wear thin and your energy starts to wane. These exercises can replenish you. The time to do them is exactly when you’re ready to throw in the towel. Asobi Sport Family Fitness will help you stay in the game and master the endurance sport called “Parenthood.” We will give you the tools and encouragement you need to get fit, improve your health, and enjoy time with your family.