Physical Fitness

Gary Moskowitz BURBANK -- Lower test scores in physical fitness have prompted some Burbank educators to get their programs up to speed. A recent report to the school board shows students who participated in last year's state-mandated fitness testing program are above county and state averages in several categories of physical fitness. But in certain other categories -- like flex arm hangs and abdominal curls -- the students' performance dropped from the year before.

What a novel concept, that physical education teachers could actually raise the fitness level of students, in a world where a few laps tends to play second fiddle to a good PlayStation 2 game, a cellphone or television show. But the idea is paying dividends in the Burbank Unified School District. Students are running farther and faster, and they are stronger and more flexible in less than a year after the district hired a team of physical education teachers and aides who travel from school to school to shape up elementary school students.

Molly Shore Local school administrators have some ideas about getting children to exercise more, but they need help getting the word out. Responding to a request by the school board that the district help inform families about physical fitness for students, a limited number of brochures titled "Physical Fitness and Your Family" have been printed. In order to print more, the district needs outside funding. The brochure lists community resources to improve fitness, including parks and recreation programs, sports programs, working out at a gym, swimming laps and becoming a mall walker.

BURBANK ? Schools in Burbank and Glendale scored above the state standards on a series of state-mandated physical fitness tests, according to a California Department of Education report. Students in the fifth, seventh and ninth grades took the test, which required them to perform six physical fitness tasks. "In physical education, there has been drastic changes in the last 20 years, in that the state has enacted physical education standards," Burbank High Principal Bruce Osgood said.

Burbank police welcomed its first all-female class of recruits Thursday at a graduation ceremony in Los Angeles - a select group that distinguished itself with academic and physical prowess, officials said. In a class of about 70 in which 52 police and sheriff's recruits averaged 92% or higher on the academic portion of their academy training, Burbank police recruit Julie Oates, 24, received the top academic honor with an overall score of 96.87%. Oates was honored before hundreds of law enforcement personnel, family and friends at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in downtown Los Angeles.

Lolita Harper MEDIA DISTRICT WEST -- She answered the telephone with a voice so soft it was hardly audible. She was tired. Just resting, she said. After being diagnosed with breast cancer almost a year ago and undergoing more than five surgeries, Leah Yekutiel, 55, had little energy to spare. But when asked about "Lying Down and Letting Go," a free fitness program at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center that is offered to women affected by cancer, Yekutiel's voice became a little stronger.

BURBANK — It was all minivans and front rolls at Golden State Gymnastics Saturday as the nonprofit gym opened its doors to the community in celebration of National Gymnastics Day, seen as an important way to promote the sport. Part open house, part fun festival and part family night, children young and old were joined by their parents at the Keystone Street facility. Goals of National Gymnastics Day are twofold: to raise awareness for the sport of gymnastics and to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network.

A new tae kwon do gym in Burbank is schooling students about a healthy lifestyle through martial arts. Planet Infinity, an almost 2-month-old addition to the west side of Olive Avenue, is the first United States version of a Filipino chain that combines life coaching with physical fitness through tae kwon do, life coach Ina Sycib said. The gym was previously located in Shadow Hills. Even though the Planet Infinity plan focuses on youth, physical fitness and life-coaching classes are available for all ages, Sycib said.

BURBANK — It was all minivans and front rolls Saturday at Golden State Gymnastics as the nonprofit gym opened its doors to the community in celebration of National Gymnastics Day, seen as an important way to promote the sport. Children young and old were joined by their parents at the Keystone Street facility for the event that’s part open house, fun festival and family night. Goals of National Gymnastics Day are twofold: to raise awareness for the sport and to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network.

Burbank police welcomed its first all-female class of recruits Thursday at a graduation ceremony in Los Angeles - a select group that distinguished itself with academic and physical prowess, officials said. In a class of about 70 in which 52 police and sheriff's recruits averaged 92% or higher on the academic portion of their academy training, Burbank police recruit Julie Oates, 24, received the top academic honor with an overall score of 96.87%. Oates was honored before hundreds of law enforcement personnel, family and friends at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in downtown Los Angeles.

BURBANK — It was all minivans and front rolls Saturday at Golden State Gymnastics as the nonprofit gym opened its doors to the community in celebration of National Gymnastics Day, seen as an important way to promote the sport. Children young and old were joined by their parents at the Keystone Street facility for the event that’s part open house, fun festival and family night. Goals of National Gymnastics Day are twofold: to raise awareness for the sport and to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network.

BURBANK — It was all minivans and front rolls at Golden State Gymnastics Saturday as the nonprofit gym opened its doors to the community in celebration of National Gymnastics Day, seen as an important way to promote the sport. Part open house, part fun festival and part family night, children young and old were joined by their parents at the Keystone Street facility. Goals of National Gymnastics Day are twofold: to raise awareness for the sport of gymnastics and to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network.

Protestant and Catholic churches in Germany have reportedly warned against an exaggerated focus on health and fitness, which ministers say emphasizes fitness over compassion and stigmatizes those who don’t have an “ideal” body type. The preoccupation with external appearance and fitness is in danger of becoming a “health religion,” religious leaders say. What do you think? Is society so obsessed with these things that it’s almost a religion in itself?

A new program at the Burbank Recreation Center is bringing a down-home, country twist to the realm of physical fitness. Country Cardio uses country music as the backdrop for a workout routine that gets participants? hearts pumping, while also acquainting them with patterned movements and dance steps. ?Country music has a feel-good quality to it ? not that the lyrics always do,? said Heather Lea Gerdes, a dance instructor whose film credits include ?Dirty Dancing.? ?The rhythms were very dancey and made me feel like I wanted to move.

A new program at the Burbank Recreation Center is bringing a down-home, country twist to the realm of physical fitness. Country Cardio uses country music as the backdrop for a workout routine that gets participants’ hearts pumping, while also acquainting them with patterned movements and dance steps. “Country music has a feel-good quality to it — not that the lyrics always do,” said Heather Lea Gerdes, a dance instructor whose film credits include “Dirty Dancing.

A new tae kwon do gym in Burbank is schooling students about a healthy lifestyle through martial arts. Planet Infinity, an almost 2-month-old addition to the west side of Olive Avenue, is the first United States version of a Filipino chain that combines life coaching with physical fitness through tae kwon do, life coach Ina Sycib said. The gym was previously located in Shadow Hills. Even though the Planet Infinity plan focuses on youth, physical fitness and life-coaching classes are available for all ages, Sycib said.

BURBANK ? Schools in Burbank and Glendale scored above the state standards on a series of state-mandated physical fitness tests, according to a California Department of Education report. Students in the fifth, seventh and ninth grades took the test, which required them to perform six physical fitness tasks. "In physical education, there has been drastic changes in the last 20 years, in that the state has enacted physical education standards," Burbank High Principal Bruce Osgood said.