Stretch ‘n Grow at Allez Hop
It's story time at Allez Hop Stretch 'n Grow
Kids sat silently as they listened intently to the story being played on the tarpaulin stage about a fierce dragon who lived in a cave who is very sick because of eating too much junk food. Now come the real heroes of the story, the four characters who represent the 4 basic food groups, who, in time, convinced the dragon to eat healthy.
I can’t recall the many times my mom used to tell me to eat my greens when I was a kid. Only when I became an adult did I finally realize the benefits of eating healthy and maintaining proper weight. At Allez Hop, they believe in starting ‘em young.
The activity is part of Stretch ‘N Grow program of Allez Hop Wellness and Balance Center, a boutique studio dedicated to building and maintaining over-all wellbeing thru a wide variety of physical fitness programs such as pilates, spinning and P.T. classes in individual, couples (for married couples who want to work out together) and group sessions. Classes are tailored to individual fitness needs. They also offer rehab therapy and pre- and post-natal pilates classses by physiotherapists board-certified by American Fitness Practitioner Association (AFPA).
With Stretch ‘n Grow, kids as young as 4 years old get started on health and fitness consciousness thru fun activities such as storytellig session, show and tell and movement activities. After the initial group meet at the center, the trainers then come to the school on a twice-monthly basis.
Kids are never allowed inside fitness gyms, especially around eqipment as they may cause injury. But at Allez Hop, they have one such activity where trainers introduce gym equipment and use in a fun way. Mr. Treadmill and Mr. Bike makes your heart strong, while Mr. Dumbell builds big, strong muscles. At this point, terms such as biceps and triceps are introduced and how muscles and bones work together.
Mr. Cadillac and Mr. Reformer elongates the muscles and makes you flexible so you may reach your toes. After each introduction kids are given a strong reminder never to come near them as they are “for your parents’ use” only.
Allez Hop, (means “let’s go” in French) opened in August 2008 and is the first of its kind in the country, located at the heart of Makati, a stone’s throw away from Makati Medical Center. Francesca Ballmer, its owner and general manager, is a Pilates practitioner specalizing in wellness and nutrition.
