A Family Affair: Highlighting the Dawes Family and Three Generations at the Fitness Clinic

This past summer marked my four-year work anniversary of being a trainer here at the Fitness Clinic. Over the past four years I have met so many wonderful people, heard about all of their stories, gained some wisdom, and have built great friendships along the way. This month, I wanted to spotlight a wonderful family that I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with for the past four years since beginning my career at the Fitness Clinic.

Meet the Dawes and Gray Family

A family whose dedication to health and wellness spans three generations and has been a part of the Fitness Clinic Family for over 15 years. The Daweses—grandparents, parents, and kids—are not just a family but a powerful example of how fitness can bridge generations and build healthy habits. For the Dawes family, working out has always been a part of their life and routine. Starting over 15 years ago, Ken and Lisa Dawes began training here at the Fitness Clinic. Fast forward to 15 years later, and their three daughters, son-in-law, and two granddaughters have now all exercised here. For the Dawes and Gray Family, they are instilling healthy habits for their children at a young age—instilling that physical activity is a necessity and creating a healthy and positive relationship with it along the way. This family made an investment, became a vector for healthy change, and is living to mirror and reflect that for their own family.

Meet Isla and Rooney

A third grader and kindergartener who I’m lucky to know and get to “workasize with” (a clever term coined by the girls). Much like she experienced as a kid coming along with her dad to the Fitness Clinic to exercise, Alex wanted her girls to be exposed to exercise at an early age and to gain a positive relationship with it. Therefore, she had the idea that for the summer, her girls could come once a week for some exercise. They enjoyed it so much through the summer that they now continue through the school year. Every Thursday, the girls come to the gym and engage in physical activity. Incorporating games, challenges, obstacle courses, and focusing on age-appropriate exercises and things like coordination, balance, and flexibility, we make exercise fun. This summer, we had our very own Gray Olympics, where Isla and Rooney competed against each other in five different events. Isla took the gold while Rooney came in a close second place and took the silver. Their smiles, laughter, and excitement are all things that remind me why I enjoy my job so much and make me feel like I am truly making a difference in their lives.

Importance of early physical activity in children

The childhood obesity rate in the United States has tripled since the 1970s (CDC). That is simply startling. In a world where technology is a must and is exposed at a young age, it makes you stop and think if this could be a correlation between the increase in technology and the increase in obesity rates amongst children. If so, how can we get the kids to turn off their videogames, iPads, computers, and start moving? Let’s be on a mission to make movement something children look forward to. Instead of always picking up the next electronic, I want kids to pick up a new ball, play a new sport, or simply go outside and play.

Health Benefits of physical activity

Not only can physical activity help to manage weight in children, it also demonstrates several other positive effects on heart health and bone strength. Introducing physical activity early on in a child might also lead to increased academic performance and brain health. It helps to improve attention and memory as well. See the below graphic.

Whether you're seeking motivation to kickstart your own fitness routine or looking for ways to engage your loved ones in a healthier lifestyle, the Dawes/Gray Family story will inspire and encourage you to embrace fitness as a shared family endeavor. Working out as a family keeps it fun and holds you accountable to stick with your routine and meet your fitness goals. Introducing kids to exercise at young age makes it seem routine and something to implement in everyday life. So, the next time you can’t find a babysitter or your child/grandchild might want to join for your workout, bring them into the Fitness Clinic! Be the model and show them what a healthy lifestyle looks like and how they, too, can start moving.

I look forward to working with more families like the Dawes and Gray family in the future and helping to instill healthy habits for years and generations to come.

Yours in health,

Taylor