Pocono News Section

Building Strong Muscles and Strong Kids

Building Strong Muscles and Strong Kids - Friday, August 21, 2009 at 5:25PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Friday, Aug 21, 2009 @ 05:25pm EST
STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY - The YFit Media Challenge Adventure is going strong. WBRE Eyewitness News Reporter Laurie Monteforte is participating in an eight week fitness challenge with Pocono Record reporter Melanie Vanderveer. The challenge will raise money and awareness for the YMCA.

Laurie is getting help from a preschool teacher named Miss Ruth Bush. She mixes learning with a healthy dose of fun during preschool at the Pocono Family YMCA. She said, "They don't have to be sit and given worksheets. They learn through lots of neat hands on activities."

Student Lindsey Kramer said, "I like doing puzzles and crafts."

Ruth started teaching about 25 years ago. She exclaimed, "It's the best job in the world!" She teaches the usual preschool skills, like sharing, and some extras, like health and fitness. Bush said, "We swim once a week, we go to the gym once a week which keeps me nice and active."

That's not the only thing that keeps Miss Ruth active. She's also a professional body builder and a personal trainer. She recently placed third in a pro competition. She laughed, "That was my goal. To compete as a pro. And I said and that's when I would be totally satisfied and it didn't work that way. I'd like to do another one."

At 54 years old, she's not slowing down. And her gym motivation teaches the kids. She said, "They just see a lifestyle of energy just feeling good about being fit."

Ruth uses lessons from her classroom to help her in the weight room. "Patience big time patience. Hard work," she explained.

Miss Ruth Bush builds strong muscles and strong kids.

Everyone involved hopes the YFit media challenge is encouraging the community to get fit. You can show off your results at the final challenge on September 20. That day there will be a big fitness fund raiser at Stroudsburg high school.

You can get involved with the challenge by calling the Pocono Family YMCA at 570-421-2525.