Greetings and happy May – also known as National Physical and Sports Month!
Boasting barrier-breaking athletes, legendary coaches, visionary trainers, and game-changing athletic programs, the DMV area has a long history of positively influencing the sports and fitness fields. As May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, The Washington Informer is emphasizing the importance of bodily wellness, and celebrating some of the local people and programs that have paved paths in sports and fitness, not only in the DMV, but throughout the world.
Highlighting fitness and sports is not just about noting impressive statistics and achievements, but acknowledging and celebrating the effort and discipline it takes to become an athlete or simply prioritize physical wellness.
“Sports and physical fitness reflect the best of the American spirit: hard work, collaboration, and big dreams,” said President Joe Biden in a 2024 declaration for National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. “You do not have to compete in organized sports to benefit from physical activity — being active in any way helps to improve your health, clear your mind, and make our nation stronger.”
This edition will emphasize why it’s important to exercise and work toward an active lifestyle as well as showcase some history-making and current athletes, artists, fitness experts and programs who further the narrative of the DMV as a game-changing area for fitness and sports.
In addition, physical fitness is important to respiratory, mental, cardiovascular, and overall health and wellness. As African Americans face several health disparities including obesity, heart disease, diabetes, various cancers and unaddressed mental health challenges, it is particularly important to promote physical fitness in the Black community.
This special edition dives into the importance of staying active in order to combat health challenges and promote overall bodily wellness.
Further, considering people like history-making tennis athlete Lucy Diggs Slowe, current basketball star Kevin Durant, and people in the community promoting wellness, this edition celebrates local fitness and sports game-changers, and their contributions to the DMV and world.
Moreover, this month and beyond, The Washington Informer hopes to inspire readers to maintain active lifestyles in order to push toward overall wellness.
Staying active doesn’t mean hitting a gym daily, but rather prioritizing movement. Free in-home workouts–from low impact to high intensity — that require little to no equipment can be found on streaming platforms such as YouTube. Or perhaps try self-guided workouts such as walking and running in place, squats, lunges, jumping jacks, push-ups and crunches, while catching up on a favorite television show — and voila, that’s a 30-minute sweat with entertainment on the side.
The purpose of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month is not only about celebrating achievements, but promoting progress in overall wellness for all Americans.
“We can all come together, feel better, and live longer if we stay active, exercise, and keep moving. It makes us healthier, and that is good for our families, our economy, and our nation,” said Biden in his declaration for the month-long wellness celebration.
As Washington Informer founder Dr. Calvin Rolark often said, “If it is to be, it is up to me.” It is our responsibility to prioritize our individual health and through our own actions, promote the importance of doing so to those around us. So spread wellness, it’s contagious.